2008 Woodie Awards
Possible MSD rate increase could raise WU's bill to nearly $30,000
By: Amanda King
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: News
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A proposed rate change underway at the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District would increase Webster University's annual stormwater removal bill from $3.96 to more than $30,000. In turn, WU Facilities is looking into low-impact development alternatives to reduce the university's sewer bill, said Facilities Director Dave Stone.
The rate change, up for consideration at the Nov. 8 MSD Board of Trustees meeting, focuses on charges for stormwater removal. The new billing method, already implemented in sewage districts throughout the United States and Canada, charges landowners according to the amount of impervious area on their property, said MSD spokesman Lance LeComb.
"Impervious area is land that does not soak up rainwater, like blacktop, cement or the footprint of a home or business," LeComb said.
Because impervious material is unable to absorb water, it increases pressure on the sewer system to accommodate the influx of rainwater into the sewers after a storm.
Currently, MSD charges all of its customers a flat rate of $3.96 per year.
"(MSD charges) 24 cents per month for storm water services (whether) you own a small, South St. Louis bungalow, you live in Webster Groves and own a small home or if you own the Galleria mall," LeComb said.
MSD's new rate will charge landowners 12 cents for every 100 square feet of impervious area in 2008 and work its way up to 29 cents per 100 square yards by year2015, LeComb said.
WU's Webster Groves campus is approximately 50 acres. Almost 35 of those are impervious, covered with buildings, parking lots or sidewalks. However, WU has already taken steps to decrease the impact of these areas, Stone said.
Detention systems installed throughout campus collect water during storms and release it afterwards to keep from overwhelming the sewer system. One detention system is located to the east of the new residence halls, and Parking Lot O on Garden Avenue was built with a detention system underneath.
The rate change, up for consideration at the Nov. 8 MSD Board of Trustees meeting, focuses on charges for stormwater removal. The new billing method, already implemented in sewage districts throughout the United States and Canada, charges landowners according to the amount of impervious area on their property, said MSD spokesman Lance LeComb.
"Impervious area is land that does not soak up rainwater, like blacktop, cement or the footprint of a home or business," LeComb said.
Because impervious material is unable to absorb water, it increases pressure on the sewer system to accommodate the influx of rainwater into the sewers after a storm.
Currently, MSD charges all of its customers a flat rate of $3.96 per year.
"(MSD charges) 24 cents per month for storm water services (whether) you own a small, South St. Louis bungalow, you live in Webster Groves and own a small home or if you own the Galleria mall," LeComb said.
MSD's new rate will charge landowners 12 cents for every 100 square feet of impervious area in 2008 and work its way up to 29 cents per 100 square yards by year2015, LeComb said.
WU's Webster Groves campus is approximately 50 acres. Almost 35 of those are impervious, covered with buildings, parking lots or sidewalks. However, WU has already taken steps to decrease the impact of these areas, Stone said.
Detention systems installed throughout campus collect water during storms and release it afterwards to keep from overwhelming the sewer system. One detention system is located to the east of the new residence halls, and Parking Lot O on Garden Avenue was built with a detention system underneath.
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