In an effort to provide comprehensive and efficient storm water service, MSD management proposed to the MSD Rate Commission a change in the storm water charge issued to the property owners in the metropolitan area.

Since 1985, a storm water service charge of $.24 was included in the bill calculation to each account, regardless of the type of property--residential, multi-family or commercial. The revenue generated from this nominal fee was insufficient to maintain and provide storm water collection systems in the District. 

In addition to a storm service charge included on the MSD bill, some taxing districts elected over the years to include an OMCI tax associated to their Real Estate Tax and Personal Property Tax. With the implementation of the storm water service charge based on impervious area, the OMCI taxes will be removed from tax bills issued in 2008.

To improve the services provided and to expand the storm water collection systems, a funding mechanism was proposed using a more fairly-based storm water service charge. The proposal was for each property to be billed a storm water charge based on the impervious square footage on that parcel.

The proposal for the Storm Water Charge was presented to the MSD Rate Commission in April 2007 and approved by the commission in August 2007. Ordinance 12560, which outlines the charge, was proposed to the MSD Board of Trustees in September 2007 and approved December 13, 2007. 

Aerial imagery is used to identify the impervious area on each piece of ground, and the boundaries of each parcel are defined by maps and other information from the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. Property locator numbers from Assessors Offices are matched to an MSD account for billing purposes.

Measurements are taken on eleven specific impervious items:

• Bridges, driveways, outbuildings, parking, patios, private sidewalks, recreation courts, sheds, structures, tanks, and private roads

MSD obtains new aerial imagery every two years. In March 2007 new aerial imagery was obtained and is currently being processed. In July 2008 the new imagery will be reflected in the MSD Storm Water Charges. The next fly-over is planned for March 2009.

All properties with a minimum impervious area will be issued a Storm Water Charge. For most customers, the storm water charge will be listed with the Waste Water User Charge on the monthly bill.

If a property does not have a water service line or the water service line is inactive -- the monthly bill will be for storm water charges only. For example, a parking lot or a building with discontinued water service would be billed for storm water charges only.

In some cases, the MSD bill may be for Waste Water Charges only:

• For example, if a condominium unit has a water line that serves only the single unit, an MSD bill for wastewater charges would be issued to the unit owner. 
• The unit owner's bill may or may not include a storm water charge. 
• The storm water charge may be issued to the condominium association for the impervious area in the entire complex if multiple condominium units are under one roof or if the complex includes common ground.

Properties directly adjacent to the Mississippi, Missouri or Meramec rivers -- If the storm water runs off the property directly to one of these rivers a storm water credit may be available. The customer can contact the MSD Call Center to submit a request for a Storm Water Credit. The information will be forwarded to the appropriate department for consideration. If it is determined the storm water flows directly to the river, future storm water charges will be reduced by a maximum of 50%.

Properties that are part of a levee district -- These property owners pay taxes to the levee district for storm water system maintenance. Under an inter-governmental agreement, MSD will submit a monthly bill to the levee district for the storm water charges on the impervious areas within that levee district. The charges will be heavily discounted because the majority of the storm water system maintenance falls to the levee district and is not provided by MSD.

An appeal process has been developed for customer concerns regarding the impervious area listed on your MSD bill:

• Contact MSD to initiate the appeal. Our Call Center number is 1-866-281-5737.
• We will review the impervious area identified for the property. If we find errors of measurement, we will correct them and notify you.
• If no error is found, an appeal form will be mailed to you. Complete this and return it to us for further review.
• We will notify you of the decision and, if the review results in a change to the impervious area, correct your account.
• If you disagree with the decision, you may send a formal letter of appeal for further consideration.

Remember, all unpaid MSD charges are subject to a 1.5% late fee if not paid by the due date on the bill. If a property has the water service inactivated and is billed for storm water charges only, but there is an unpaid balance comprised of delinquent wastewater charges, the entire balance is subject to late charges.

• Billing FAQ