Stormwater Management Division

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is an abnormal amount of rainwater on the ground due to heavy rain or snow. Stormwater that doesn't soak into the ground is runoff and originates from impermeable surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, roads, and rooftops or ground that is impervious due to over or under saturation. Stormwater is important because it often contains pollutants in quantities that could adversely affect water quality. 

Stormwater Fees

A stormwater utility is similar to a water or sewer utility, being a mechanism to provide a dependable financial resource for funding continued operation, maintenance, reconstruction, and new construction of a municipality’s stormwater-related infrastructure.  

Our stormwater infrastructure needs maintained and updated similar to the city’s roadways and water system.  A strong stormwater program aids in protecting properties and helps maintain a safe, healthy environment for our residents and visitors to Munroe Falls.

Regular maintenance is performed annually including catch basin inspection and repairs, maintenance of roadside ditches, and inspection and maintaining pipes, culverts, and crossover pipes that convey water runoff.   Additionally, state and federal regulations now require a more stringent comprehensive approach to stormwater management.  

The stormwater utility fund is also used to offset costs to the city for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) compliance activities including the additional required operation, maintenance, and inspection activities, as well as to fund additional water quality controls now required.

As a part of the Clean Water Act of 1972, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established stormwater management rules that affect hundreds of municipalities across the U.S.  The city is mandated to test the contents of stormwater runoff, seek out and eliminate illicit discharges and illegal dumping, ensure best management practices are followed for new construction, and educate the public on being good stewards of the land and critical water resources such as streams and rivers.

An impervious area is any hard surface that does not allow stormwater to be absorbed into the ground.   Impervious surfaces include rooftops, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks.  Just as residences and businesses pay a fee for the amount of water they use, and the amount of wastewater they discharge, the stormwater fee charges a property owner based on the amount of stormwater runoff generated on their property.  In this type of fee structure, all residences are charged an equivalent rate.  All residential properties are charged a constant rate, known as an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU)  It is based on the typical amount of impervious area in square feet on a residential property.   Within the City of Munroe Falls, the city’s engineering firm, GPD, determined that the typical residential property has 3,000 square feet of impervious area.  Nonresidential or commercial property is charged a fee based on their total impervious area divided by 3,0000 square feet and charges one ERU for every 3,000 square feet.  For example, a non-residential property with 9,000 square feet of impervious area would be charged 3 ERUs.

Ordinance 2024-03 establishing the Stormwater Management Utility, passed by City Council on June 18, 2024, can be viewed here

Ordinance 2024-04 establishing the stormwater rate, passed by City Council on August 6, 2024, can be viewed here. 

Summit County Stormwater Initiative

Beginning in 2021 Summit County NPDES Storm Water Permit theme is Runoff Reduction - "Stormwater - Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In". This initiative promotes watershed awareness and protection strategies throughout the Lake Erie Basin, aimed at increasing the public's knowledge of the impacts of non-point source pollution.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit

Most stormwater discharges are considered point sources and require coverage by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The primary method to control stormwater discharges is through the use of "best management practices" (BMPs).

The City of Munroe Falls is charged with meeting the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES permit. The NPDES is a permitting mechanism that requires the completion of six minimum control measures (MCM) designed to prevent harmful pollutants from entering local bodies of water through storm water runoff. These measure include:

• Public Education and Outreach: A program to inform individuals, businesses and organizations within the MS4 as to the impact on surface water quality of contaminated storm water discharges and how they can help reduce storm water contamination.
• Public Involvement / Participation: A program to create opportunities for individuals and organizations to participate in the development and implementation of activities to reduce the contamination of storm water.
• Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE): A program to detect and eliminate cross-connection, dumping of wastes or other non-storm water discharges not authorized by a separate NPDES permit.
• Construction Site Runoff Control: A program to require erosion and sediment controls for sites disturbing one or more acres.
• Post-Construction Storm Water Management in New Development and Redevelopment: A program to require the development, implementation and maintenance of controls on sites after development and redevelopment to address storm water issues.
• Pollution Prevention / Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations: A program, including an employee training component, to minimize pollutants from municipal operations such as garages, salt piles, pesticides used for green spaces, etc.

The City of Munroe Falls is working with the Summit County Engineer’s Office, Summit Soil and Water Conservation District, Summit County Health Department, and other government entities to meet EPA’S requirements.

Click here to view a copy of the Munroe Falls Illicit Discharge Ordinance

Catch Basins and Storm Drains

Never mow, blow or rake grass clippings or yard waste from your property into the street. This will clog drains and cause flooding. If you notice a storm drain or catch basin clogged, blocked, or not functioning properly, please report this to the city at once.  Use the forms link below or call City Hall at 330-688-7491 ext 223.

Driveway Culvert Pipes

The pipe at the end of your driveway under the apron/approach, is called a "driveway culvert pipe". 

Driveway culverts are to be addressed in the following manner:

1. Driveway culverts are considered part of the driveway approach and as  such are owned by the property owner who is responsible for installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement.
2. Owners wishing to modify, replace or perform other work on their culvert must obtain the applicable permit(s). 
3. Construction inspection is required and will be provided by the Service Department.  
4. Any culvert hereafter constructed or installed under driveways within the Municipality shall be at least eighteen feet in length and not less than twelve inches in diameter and constructed of corrugated metal or as otherwise established by the City Engineer.  
5. Routine maintenance, including but not limited to, removing small obstructions (leaves, trash, small tree limbs, etc.) mowing, and maintain appropriate vegetative cover so as to limit erosion, is the responsibility of the property owner, as it is routine maintenance of the adjacent ditch. 
6. The City is responsible for removal of significant obstructions, 

Property Owners are able to request the City's assistance for the culvert pipe and/or installation of the culvert pipe. Complete the application and the City will advise of the costs (based on current pricing).  You may purchase the culvert pipe and have the City do the installation, or pay the city for both the pipe and the installation. Additionally, there is an option to have the charges put on the owner's utility bill to pay in installments, all at once, or assess to the property tax bill (fees apply). Click the application (below) for further details:

Culvert Pipe Replacement / Installation Application

Installations are scheduled between May and October at the City's discretion.

Ditches

Ditches are a part of your property and are the homeowners' responsibility to maintain to keep water flowing freely. Some residents have expressed interest in enclosing the ditch on their property. Ditch enclosure may only be performed when approved by the City of Munroe Falls and with a Right of Way permit and inspection. 

Click here for specifications.

Anytime rainfall is abundant, there is potential for varying degrees of flooding. Many people are faced with flooding issues and concerns with a variety of causes and, as frustrating as it can be, the property owner is responsible to resolve the matters. 

Summit Soil and Water Conservation District has put together information to assist landowners with common issues (Ohio Drainage Laws).  Click here

Backyard Flooding Provided by SSWCD  (*information obtained from the Roth Construction website: How to Reduce the Impact of Floods by Using Landscaping Best Practices)

• Level a sloping yard. To avoid incoming water, the ground should always slope away from your home in all directions. Locate the high and low points of your home and use extra dirt to slope the yard away from your house. This way, melting snow and rain will flow away from your home and basement, preventing flooding in your home. Work with a professional to make sure vents, basement windows, pipes, drains, and other areas aren't negatively impacted during the grading process. 
• Choose local plants that prevent flooding in your yard. Indigenous plants can help to prevent soil erosion while also allowing rainwater to drain more efficiently. Plants native to Ohio can help prevent erosion and reduce flooding in your home. These can be found at local plant nurseries. For more information about plants local to your part of Ohio visit https://nativeplantfinder.nwf.org
• Using mulch in the garden can prevent water from flowing toward your home. In garden areas, grade away from your home and fill with a few inches from your siding to avoid moisture wicking and rotting of your home's exterior. 
• Planting new grass can reduce the impact of floods. The root structure of grass can help absorb water. It's important to research what kind of grass would be most effective for your area. Once it grows in, avoid cutting your lawn too short, which weakens the roots and can lead to flooding in your yard, and possibly your home. 
• Learn what to plant in a rain garden. Rain gardens are the perfect solution for curbing erosion and improving water quality. They collect rainwater and water that runs from your gutters and downspouts, creating a runoff, filtering it away from your house. They are often created in shallow, landscaped depressions, which helps to naturally absorb rainwater in the ground. 
• Add drainage areas near driveways. Paved driveways can quickly lead to rainwater runoff, which can increase your home's risk for flooding. Installing a gravel or spaced paver driveway are two options. For something less expensive, consider adding drainage next to your driveway by way of channel drains, pavers, or other landscaping-based solutions. 
• Learn how to install a rain barrel. Rain barrels, which are placed at the bottom of downspouts to collect the water, are a great way to redirect moisture and protect your home from flooding. As an added bonus, rain barrels allow an eco-friendly way to water your gardens and lawn when it's dry out. They also decrease pollution runoff into lakes and natural waterways. 
• Know how to test your sump pump. A well-maintained sump pump will ensure that your basement stays dry by directing water out of your basement and away from your home. A sump pump can mean the difference between proper water flow and costly water damage. It's important to check your sump pump to make sure everything is in proper working order. If you don't have a sump pump, you might want to see if getting one is right for you. 

For more information on stormwater and drainage issues, contact the Summit Soil and Water Conservation District at 330-929-2871 or click here to visit their website.  

Summit Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) 1180 S. Main St., Ste 230, Akron Ohio 44301

Call:  330-929-2871