Sewer District To Host Residential Stormwater Credit Workshop In Parma
Fees for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s Regional Stormwater Management Program returned to bills beginning July. The Sewer District is hosting informational workshops to help customers learn more about the program’s benefits to Parma and how residents can apply for residential credits to reduce their bills.
Most customers receive quarterly sewer bills and this fee will appear as a separate line-item on their July, August or September bills, whenever the next bill is scheduled. Through the Sewer District’s stormwater fee credits, customers can reduce their bill by taking steps to manage their stormwater runoff.
The Sewer District is holding several meetings and customers can attend any meeting that is most convenient to them. A brief presentation will be offered at multiple times throughout these workshops and Sewer District representatives will be on-hand to walk customers through the application process and answer property-specific questions. Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills residents are encouraged to attend the following meeting:
Saturday, August 20, 2016
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Watershed Stewardship Center at West Creek
2277 West Ridgewood Drive, Parma
At this event, the Cleveland Metroparks will offer guided tours of the Watershed Stewardship Center, highlighting best stormwater management practices on-site. Customers can also learn how to paint a rain barrel from Linda Zolten Wood of the Collinwood Painted Rain Barrel Project. West Creek Conservancy will also be at the event to showcase the latest activities in the watershed.
In addition, residents should also attend the Sewer District’s Annual Open House on September 17, 2016, at the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Facility. Stormwater workshops will be offered at this fun, family-friendly event, but this event is a great opportunity to learn more about all the work the Sewer District does to help keep our Great Lake great. More information is at neorsd.org/openhouse.
The Stormwater Program addresses flooding, streambank erosion and water quality problems across the Sewer District’s 355 square mile service area. Parma is a member community of the Sewer District; wastewater from the city is treated at the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant, but rain and melting snow falling within our boundaries flows into creeks, streams and rivers and makes its way into West Creek (or Big Creek or Hemlock Creek).
In addition to construction projects that will improve the West Creek and neighboring watersheds, the Sewer District will assume responsibility for millions of dollars of necessary maintenance along large streams across the region. The Sewer District will also conduct planning and build projects to begin addressing the region’s chronic flooding and erosion issues. In addition to the assumed maintenance responsibilities, this program will financially benefit Parma with the Sewer District’s Community Cost Share program that offers reimbursable grants to our community for stormwater-related work we do.
Additional information about the Regional Stormwater Management Program is available at www.neorsd.org/stormwater.