GIS for Green Philadelphia Introduces Parcel-Based Storm Water Billing and Corresponding Online Application by Caitlin Cunningham

[GIS] GIS for Green Philadelphia introduces parcel-based storm water billing and corresponding online application By Caitlin Cunningham

fter 15 years of development their properties in high-resolution issued prior to the July 2010 switch, and planning, on July 1, orthophotography and display according to PWD. 2010, the city of Philadelphia transparent overlays that illustrate Bill payers can submit appeals Aadopted a new approach for assessing impervious area, gross area, PWD through phillystormwater.org if they nonresidential property owners’ storm account info, credits and a charge wish to dispute a property’s gross or water management fees. Over the summary for fiscal years 2011 to 2014. impervious area measurements, which course of three years, the Philadelphia “We knew that the transition from are researched and managed by three Water Department (PWD) will phase meter-based billing for storm water PWD staff members who update the in a parcel-based storm water billing to parcel-based billing would be a GIS layers that feed the website. PWD system that charges owners based on challenging concept for many of our can use the application to track the total property area and impervious customers,” said Joanne Dahme, public progress status of customer appeals— surface coverage. To support its new affairs manager for PWD. “Our goal under review, review complete, decision fee structure, PWD teamed up with was to make this information available issued or disposition letter sent—and Philadelphia-based software design and both visually—so that customers could promptly correct any parcel data errors. development firm Azavea, a partner take a look at their parcel and gain a Phillystormwater.org also offers on other city agency data management good understanding about its physical steps owners can take to reduce projects, to launch the complementary characteristics related to their storm fees via a financial credits program online public storm water GIS water fees—and also as an opportunity that rewards the implementation of application phillystormwater.org. to ensure that the information we have specified onsite water management on their parcel is as accurate as possible.” practices. Plans are in motion to add The Application The parcel-based billing system is a “Credits Explorer” feature that acts Phillystormwater.org equips property intended in part to expand PWD’s as a storm water charge calculator to owners with tools for understanding customer base and to make customers’ further incentivize greener properties. how PWD calculates their storm cost of service more equitable. Some “Customers will be able to select water fees. The application details each property owners are seeing a decrease or sections of impervious area on their new billing component and how it increase in their storm water bills, but property and see the impact on their will be phased in. Users can visualize most charges are comparable to those storm water charge if that impervious area was managed,” said Casey Thomas, PWD’s storm water billing planning manager. “The tool will assist customers in their cost-benefit analyses when they are contemplating making capital investments to manage storm water.” Promotion & Response PWD has informed its customers about the application via mailers, messages on bills, bill inserts, civic and public meetings, business forums, e-mail lists, call centers and media coverage. It is the department’s hope that phillystormwater.org makes billing more transparent and easy for customers while improving PWD's effectiveness. “As customers have gained more information about the program and Phillystormwater.org allows users to explore parcels on an interactive map and provides a charge its goals, they are generally accepting summary for each parcel. of the fairness and science-based

12 • S T O R M W A T E R S O L U T I O N S • M A Y / J U N E 2 0 1 1 principal of the parcel-based formula; as part of its Greenworks Program, clean, safe and accessible streams however, their enthusiasm over this an ambitious plan to transform and rivers.” SWS transition usually depends on whether Philadelphia into a national model for or not their own storm water fees are urban sustainability. Caitlin Cunningham is editor of Storm increasing or decreasing based on their “The ultimate goal is to regain Water Solutions. Cunningham can be parcel characteristics,” Dahme said. the vital water resources that have reached at [email protected] “We are doing our best to work with been lost due to urbanization, while or 847.391.1025. our impacted customers to find ways to simultaneously addressing regulatory mitigate their increased costs through compliance in a cost-effective For more information, write in 804 on our corresponding credits program manner,” Dahme said. “Altogether, this issue’s Reader Service Card or visit and low-interest loan program for [our] principles will help us enjoy www.estormwater.com/lm.cfm/st061104. storm water mitigation, in addition to exploring other opportunities such as storm water mitigation banks.” Response to phillystormwater.org has been strong within the software engineering and support field, ® according to Robert Cheetham, founder and chief executive officer JJ && SS ValveValve of Azavea, who also noted the environmental and community GET ON BOARD WITH benefits of the collaboration. “The water department’s shift to HEDFLEX DUCKBILLILL CHECK VALVES billing based on storm water runoff rather than water usage has the potential to improve the water quality Sizes ½” - 96” of our rivers and streams as well as ACE 2011 improve water infiltration across Washington, DC the city and potentially avoid the Booth #1659 construction of expensive treatment facilities,” Cheetham said. “We are grateful to have an opportunity to make a contribution to such an important project.” City of Sustainability Love In a city the size and age of Philadelphia, building more and larger gray infrastructure is not the answer to storm water management HEDFLEX: challenges—that would carry too • hefty a price tag. Instead, the city Replaces Faulty Flap Valves & is taking a more natural approach, Faulty Curved Bill Rubber Check Valves encouraging property owners to adopt • No Curved Bill to Swing Open or Restrict Flow green onsite management practices to • Will Not Fail to Open When Obstructed by Debris or reduce impervious pavement coverage Sediment Like Curved Duckbills & Flap Valves and promote water filtration via soil • Will Not Seize in Unwanted Positions and vegetation. • Highest Grade Rubber Compounds Philadelphia’s $2-billion Green • Highest Strength Polyester Reinforcement Plies City, Clean Waters program aims • ANSI/NSF 61 Certified Materials to reduce storm water and sewage • overflows into area waterways during Not A Patented Design rain events, partly by achieving an annual reduction in the city’s IMPROVING THE INDUSTRY STANDARD! impervious surface coverage. By 2029, PWD plans to replace at least one- third of the city’s impervious surfaces Ph: 281-324-3990 [email protected] JandSValve.com with green storm water infrastructure Write in 756 www.estormwater.com • 13