Environmental management is a key element in the Richardson City Council’s Statement of Goals, and included among the specific action items is the desire to “maintain the drainage system throughout the City where it is necessary to preserve the integrity of the system; minimize erosion and protect property from the threat of flooding; and evaluate available funding opportunities for drainage rehabilitation and enhancement projects.”

During the 2011-2012 budget process, the Council received briefings from City staff and had numerous discussions concerning the inclusion of a mid-year implementation of a storm water/drainage utility system. The Council chose to include it in the 2011-2012 budget. A public hearing regarding the Drainage Utility System was held Nov. 28 at City Hall after which the Council voted to adopt an ordinance establishing the drainage utility system and approved a resolution establishing a schedule of charges for services.

The Texas Legislature authorized cities to establish drainage utilities in 1987 and Richardson was one of only two of the 13 peer cities in the Metroplex without a drainage utility system. The adoption of the system will help the City keep up with needed maintenance on the community’s storm water drainage system.

The City’s storm water drainage system includes nearly 300 miles of drainage pipes and over 44 miles of creeks throughout 12 drainage basins. Establishing the drainage utility system will allow the City to continue to sustain its environmental and regulatory obligations for storm water management, enhance its annual maintenance and capital work plan in response to community needs and expectations and allocate the cost of drainage-related services through an equitable rate method.

The residential fee structure is a flat monthly rate of $5.25 per household. For commercial properties, a monthly rate of $0.147 per 100 square feet of impervious area is used to calculate charges, with a minimum charge of $5.25. Impervious areas are hard surfaces such as roof tops, driveway and parking lots where water is not easily absorbed. The commercial rate is based on the amount of storm water a commercial property would contribute to the system relative to the average residential property. Churches and school districts are exempt from the fee. State property including The University of Texas at Dallas is exempt under state statute.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How is the fee calculated? 

The single family residential fee structure is a flat monthly rate of $5.25 per household.

For commercial properties, a monthly rate of $0.147 per 100 square feet of impervious area is used to calculate charges. Impervious areas are hard surfaces such as roof tops, driveway and parking lots where water is not easily absorbed. The commercial rate is based on the amount of storm water a commercial property would contribute to the system relative to the average residential property.

Churches and school districts are exempt from the fee. State property including The University of Texas at Dallas is exempt under state statute.

Why is the City doing this now?  

Improving the City’s drainage system is not only a goal of the City Council but there are also specific regulations required by the Texas Pollution Discharge Elimination System. Establishing the drainage utility system will allow the City to continue to sustain its environmental and regulatory obligations for storm water management, enhance its annual maintenance and capital work plan in response to community needs and expectations and allocate the cost of drainage-related services through an equitable rate method.

What type of projects will the money fund?  

• Inspections and compliance
• Debris removal and clean out
• Vegetation management
• Hazardous spill management
• Public awareness and outreach
• Storm preparation and post-event response
• Pipe and channel repair
• Flood control
• Erosion protection
• Aeration and aquatic vegetation management
• Bridge and culvert construction
• Storm water treatment structures
• Spillways and dam structures 

For more information? 

Click on the links below to view the public hearings, City Council discussion and passage of the ordinance and resolution. 

To view the Ordinance | To view the Resolution 

• Council Drainage Fee Presentation Part 1  
• Council Drainage Fee Presentation Part 2  
• Council Drainage Fee Presentation Part 3  

Powerpoint Presentation from November 28, 2011 Public Hearing: View As PDF | View As PPTX 

Call 972-744-4120 or e-mail customer service at: customer.service@cor.gov 

Measures residents can take to improve storm water quality:  

• Do not hose chemicals that are used for cleaning concrete or washing your house into storm water catch basins
• Do not tip oil, paints and other chemicals into storm water catch basins
• Place litter in rubbish bins as this helps to prevent blockages from rubbish material that enters into the storm water pipe network and creeks

For more information check out our water quality page here.