Benefits to Small Business
In addition to providing funds for capital improvement projects to Nashville’s water, sewer and stormwater systems, the Clean Water Infrastructure Program was designed to alleviate burdens placed on small businesses and residents from water and sewer fees implemented in the past.
Capacity Fees
Capacity fees are charged for new connections to the water and sewer systems to offset the effect of increased demand on the systems’ infrastructure. The Clean Water Infrastructure Program, as originally proposed, lowered capacity fees for both water and sewer by 50 percent.
The Metro Council changed the legislation for the program to further reduce these fees. Once the legislation is approved and the program is implemented, the capacity fee for sewer will be reduced from $2,000 per unit of flow to $750 and the capacity fee for water will be reduced from $1,000 per unit of flow to $250.
In addition, the Clean Water Infrastructure Program ensures customers are not overcharged on capacity fees based on estimates. The program allows Metro Water Services to review customer accounts one year after new connections are made and determine the actual capacity requirements based on usage. If the difference between what was charged and the actual capacity requirements is 10 percent or greater, Metro Water Services will either refund or collect the difference.
Late Fees
Late fees are currently charged to any account not paid within 15 days of the bill date. The late fee is $10 or 5 percent of the total bill, whichever is greater. The Clean Water Infrastructure Program reduces the amount of the minimum late fee to $2.50 and extends the billing period by an additional five days.
Stormwater Fees and Credits
Currently, stormwater infrastructure is paid for by a portion of sewer fees charged to Metro Water Service customers. The Clean Water Infrastructure Program creates a new fee for stormwater that will be charged to all property owners in Davidson County with the exception of those in the six satellite cities. This method of funding the stormwater system will ensure all properties that contribute to stormwater runoff, including those without a water meter (such as parking lots), contribute to the cost of managing it.
Stormwater fees are based on the amount of impervious square footage on a property. Most small businesses will pay $40 or less per month for stormwater. The program, as originally proposed, would have charged any property with at least 400 square feet of impervious surface a minimum of $20 per month. The Metro Council changed the legislation for the program to add an additional category for non-residential properties, highlighted in yellow below, to reduce the cost to small businesses.
Non-Residential Stormwater Rates |
|
|---|---|
| Square Feet | Rate |
| 0-400 | $0.00 |
| 400-6,000 | $10.00 |
| 6,000-12,800 | $20.00 |
| 12,800-51,200 | $40.00 |
View a complete chart of stormwater rates for non-residential customers. |
|
Credits will be available to non-residential property owners that reduce Metro’s stormwater management costs or lessen the impact to the stormwater system. For example, a property owner that reduces the demand on the stormwater program through controls such as detention systems, water quality controls, or bio-retention areas, is able to reduce their stormwater user fee. This credit system, as it is known, has the effect of encouraging low impact development.
Download a printable version of this page
Questions which are not addressed through this web site, please email Sonia Harvat.