User-Fee Funded Stormwater Programs, 2013 Update to the 1994 WEF Manual

The 2013 update to the 1994 WEF special publication, User- Fee-Funded Stormwater Utilities manual provides an overview of current best practices for implementing a user fee funding mechanism, with lessons learned from 11 case studies from across the US and Canada. This paper highlights some of the chapters that reflect some of the most significant changes in approach and context during the past 20 years. The paper summarizes current best practices in developing stormwater fee programs, based on advances in technologies such as GIS and billing systems, changing requirements for stormwater programs, and the considerable insight from industry experience during the past 20 years. The paper includes a summary of important lessons from 11 case studies included in the publication, including creative approaches for adapting fee structures and credit programs to address local contexts and stakeholder needs. The case studies include communities throughout North America, ranging from long established programs in communities such as Portland, Oregon that have evolved to reflect stakeholder needs and changing program requirements to relatively newer programs, such as one in Richmond, Virginia that was established to address a combination of permit requirements and locally-driven program needs.