In 2013, the City established a stormwater utility. What is its purpose?
The stormwater utility was established to pay the costs associated with managing stormwater, including the operations and ongoing maintenance and repair of the public storm sewer system. The utility is funded through a monthly stormwater fee imposed on every Oakwood property. The fee for single-family residential properties and for two and three-family dwellings was $6 per month during the first four years of operating the utility. In 2017, the fee was raised to $7 per month, and in 2020, it was raised to $10 per month. The fee for four-family and larger residential properties and for commercial and institutional properties is based on the amount of hard surface area, or impervious area, of the property. In 2024, we spent $496,750 on maintaining the storm sewer system, including underground storm sewer pipes, catch basin inlets, manholes, roadway gutters, drainage ditches, and streams. The 2020 fee increase was necessary to address future stormwater infrastructure needs.
Oakwood has a Phase 2 Stormwater permit. What are the requirements and what can residents do to help?
The City of Oakwood maintains a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) permitted through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). The SWMP establishes specific goals to limit pollution that enters the region’s streams and rivers.
Some of the tasks that the city completes annually to meet these requirements include:
- Street sweeping to keep debris out of the storm sewer;
- Dry weather screening of manholes to help identify and eliminate illicit connections;
- Mapping of the city’s outfalls to rivers and streams;
- Controlling construction run-off;
- Internal day-to-day best practices to help limit pollution;
- Submitting an annual report on the year’s activities to the OEPA;
- Educating residents on stormwater matters and promoting public participation in pollution prevention.
Citizens in the community can do some simple things to help prevent pollution to our rivers and streams. Please clean up after your pets because the bacteria from animal waste is dangerous to fish and other wildlife in the rivers and streams. Please do not put oil into the storm or sanitary sewers – 1 quart of oil can pollute 100,000 gallons of water. Also, please do not wash vehicles in the street or other areas where soapy water can enter the storm sewer system. Please keep yard debris (except for leaves during the published 10-week collection period in the fall) out of the street as it will be washed into the storm sewers and eventually into the rivers and streams.
Far Hills Storm Sewer Reconstruction
This year, the City of Oakwood completed the years-long Far Hills Storm Sewer Reconstruction Project to address aging infrastructure and improve stormwater management. The project involved repairing several sections of collapsed pipe and rerouting the storm sewer that previously ran under a home at 1313 Far Hills Avenue. The new alignment now runs along the property line, making way for future construction of a new home. Upgrades were made on Dellwood Avenue from East Schantz Avenue to Far Hills Avenue, the area from the Oakwood High School and Junior High staff parking lot to Dellwood Avenue, segments along Far Hills Avenue, between residential lots from Far Hills Avenue to Devereux Drive, and along Devereux Drive to Forrer Road. Devereux Drive was also completely reconstructed, curb to curb, within the project limits. These improvements will help protect our neighborhoods from intermittent flooding and ensure that our stormwater system is reliable for years to come.
