The Town of Fountain Hills is in the process of implementing an environmental fee to help offset the costs of federal- and state-mandated clean water regulations.

Property owners will be receiving a bill in January for a total of $36 to cover the $3 per month fee for 2016.

The town is holding a series of public open house sessions to answer questions about the fee and how it will be used. The first of those is today, Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. at the Community Center.

This article explains the storm water regulations to which the town must comply.

Most people do not know that there are two completely separate systems that handle storm water and sewer water in the community.

Having separate systems for storm water and sewer waste water is common in virtually every municipality in the Valley.

On average the Valley receives about seven inches of rain each year, and storm water is treated differently than sanitary waste water.

Through last week the Maricopa County Flood Control District had recorded 7.56 inches of rain thus far in 2015 at the Palisades Boulevard Fire Station in Fountain Hills.

After a rain storm, water travels through a complex storm water collection system that is made up of gutters, catch basins, streets, washes, retention basins and other storm water conveyance structures.

While the storm water travels through the system it carries debris, oils, sediment and other contaminates that are picked up along the way.

The water in the storm system is not treated for contaminants in the same way that sanitary wastewater is treated.

It goes directly into the ground via infiltration into the soil. Any contaminants will eventually make their way into the water table and even rivers and lakes.

The sanitary sewer collection is a closed system receiving waste water from homes and businesses from sinks, toilets, shows and baths. From there the waste water travels through a series of pipes to the wastewater treatment plant.

Clean Water Act

The federal Clean Water Act (CWA), among other things, regulates storm water and urban runoff to protect water quality, and it specifies the responsibilities of municipalities.

The Phase II Final Rule requires small municipal storm water systems, designated as MS4s, such as Fountain Hills, to obtain a permit that specifies the measures that must be taken to prevent pollution from entering the storm water system.

In Arizona Phase II permits are administered by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

The Town of Fountain Hills has held at Phase II permit since June 2003 and, as a result, must meet certain requirements as the permit holder.

The main requirement is establishing and maintaining a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP).

Fountain Hills is required to prohibit non-storm water discharges into the storm water system and to implement enforcement procedures.

In order to meet these requirements, the Fountain Hills Town Council adopted Ordinance 03-13 on June 3, 2003. The SWMP includes six Minimum Control Measures with Best Management Practices (BMPs) and measurable goals for each:

*Construction of storm water runoff controls.

*Illicit discharge detection and elimination.

*Pollution prevention.

*Post- construction storm water management.

*Public education and outreach.

*Public participation/involvement.

Fountain Hills is a member of Storm Water Outreach for Regional Municipalities (STORM), an organization made up of 23 municipal organizations.

The STORM organization helps provide educational material relating to storm water management and provides a forum for discussion of best management practices for participating munic­ipalities.

One can visit the STORM website for more information at www.azstorm.org.

The Town Council has moved to implement the storm water fee for all land parcels in Fountain Hills as a way to generate revenue to cover costs related to meeting these permit and enforcement requirements.

Failure to do so could result in the town paying hefty fines for non-compliance of these mandates or possibly reducing other town services to pay for these services.

The town has scheduled the following open house meetings for residents to attend and learn more about the environmental fee:

*Wednesday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m., Community Center, Yavapai Room.

*Wednesday, Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m., Community Center Computer Lab.