Stormwater Billing (ERU)

Stormwater Billing (ERU)

As of July 1, 2026, property owners in Wendell are billed for stormwater runoff based on the Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU).

An ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit) is the average impervious surface area found on a single-family residence. Impervious surfaces are any built-upon areas, such as rooftops, sidewalks, and driveways that impede the natural infiltration of water into the soil. The impervious surface area (ISA) was calculated for residential properties throughout Wendell during an analysis project with a partner firm.

The ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit) for Wendell was determined to be 2,508 square feet.

As such, all single-family properties in Wendell are billed annually at $120, as 1 ERU is billed at $120.

This new system ensures more equitable billing across the community, as greater contributors to the stormwater system will pay a larger sum than those with a smaller footprint. The previous system was $75 a parcel, for all parcels in town, regardless of size.

The image on this page is an example of a property with a larger impervious surface area (ISA) than a traditional single-family property.

Current Fee Rate

The following stormwater fee structure has been implemented:
The billing rate for 1 ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit) is $120 annually.

Residential Properties: All residential units will be billed annually for 1 ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit), so $120.

Non-Residential: All non-residential properties will be charged based on the total amount of impervious area on a property divided by the ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit) of 2,508 square feet, then multiplied by $120 per year.

Example:
100,000 sq. ft. / 2,508 sq. ft. = 39.87 ERU
39.87 ERU X $120 per year = $4,784.68 per year for the property's stormwater utility fee.