Stormwater utility fees and household affordability of urban water services

Abstract Stormwater utility fees provide dedicated revenues for managing stormwater. In setting fees, household-level affordability should be considered. Existing research does not address methods to evaluate the of stormwater especially alongside other household water costs. This paper aims fill that gap. We present a scenario-based approach in municipality, which considers essential service charges. estimate relative contribution total costs and across income brackets by integrating data socioeconomic status, land use, charges, impervious surface cover. Using case study region, results indicate are small contributors overall urban comprise no more than 2% median nearly all quintiles. For low-income households, charges only exceed 1% lowest-income (<$20,000) still represent portion The analysis demonstrates generalizable can applied everywhere when evaluating fee as funding strategy.