Stormwater Utility Funding Study

Campbell River is reviewing how we fund stormwater management to keep our system strong, protect homes and waterways, and better ensure costs are shared fairly.

What is Stormwater and Why it Matters

Stormwater is the rain, melting snow and ice that washes off driveways, parking lots, roads, rooftops, and other surfaces. On natural surfaces, like grass or soil, water soaks into the ground like a sponge. But on impervious surfaces – those hard surfaces like parking lots and rooftops – rain and melted snow can’t absorb into the ground. Instead, it runs off these surfaces, picking up oil, chemicals, litter and other pollutants, and carries them through our storm sewers and out into nearby creeks, the Campbell River, and the Discovery Passage. Some, but not all, stormwater runoff is treated through street sweeping, catch basin cleaning and stormwater ponds.

Stormwater Management in Campbell River

Our stormwater system includes:

• Over 165 km of storm sewers
• 118 km of ditches
• 2,911 maintenance holes
• 4,313 catch basins
• 42,825 storm service connections
• 83 outfalls
• 25 stormwater management ponds
• 14 km of culverts

This infrastructure has a combined total value of over $230 million. Most of it is underground, so it’s easy to overlook, but it’s essential for preventing flooding and protecting our waterways.

Underground stormwater infrastructure

Campbell River’s stormwater system is aging and most of it was designed many years ago before there were considerations for extreme weather events. Without regular investment, we risk:

• Flooding and property damage to homes, businesses and public spaces.
• Polluted waterways that harm fish, wildlife and the natural beauty we all enjoy.
• Higher emergency response costs when things go wrong.

Proactive and sustainable funding for our stormwater system helps protect public and private property, keeps our waters clean and builds resilience so our community can better handle extreme weather events.

Paying for Stormwater Services

How We Currently Pay

Property owners have always paid for stormwater services through a flat parcel tax, which can be found on property tax notices. Today, every property pays about $116 per year, regardless of its size or how much stormwater runoff it creates. A small home or café pays the same as a large store with a big parking lot, even though the larger property sends more water into the stormwater system.

Why We Are Reviewing This Approach

A flat fee is simple, but it may not be the fairest way to share costs. We’re exploring whether there’s a better approach – one that reflects a property’s impact on the stormwater system and helps keep the system strong as our infrastructure ages, our community evolves, and weather becomes more extreme.

How Other Cities Pay for Stormwater

Many cities take a fairer approach by charging stormwater fees based on a property’s estimated contribution to the city’s stormwater systems, such as sewers and waterways. This makes costs more proportional, encourages property owners to manage runoff and helps fund infrastructure that reduces flooding and pollution.

One option is a rate based on impervious area – hard surfaces like roofs, driveways and parking lots – because these surfaces create more runoff. Of the 2,000 stormwater fees in North America, over two-thirds use impervious area to determine a property’s stormwater fee.

About the Stormwater Utility Funding Study

The Stormwater Utility Funding Study is reviewing alternative funding models for stormwater services. A fee based on estimated impact also opens the door to incentives. Property owners who take steps to reduce the amount or improve the quality of runoff, such as installing rain gardens or oil-grit separators, could qualify for rebates or credits that lower their fee.

Get Involved

Please see our project timeline for key project updates.