Stormwater Utility Fee Structure

The Stormwater Utility generates its revenue through user fees. The stormwater fee is necessary to meet the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR) Phase II Stormwater requirements. These fees are used for planning, development, and maintenance of the system. A separate fee was determined to be the most equitable to all citizens and companies in the City of Superior.

Residential, Commercial, and Non-Single Family Monthly Stormwater Utility Charges:

  1. Impervious (variable) Fee: $5.90 per Equivalent Runoff Unit (ERU).Each parcel is billed individually. Owners of multiple parcels may request to receive a summary invoice for all parcels.
    • The minimum fee billed is 1 ERU for $5.90 per month ($17.70 for 3 months).
    • Larger properties over 2933 square feet are billed based on the total number of ERUs at a rate of $5.90 per ERU per month.
    • This fee covers the cost of the programs required by our stormwater permit in addition to the administration of the program and billing.
  2. Billing- Invoices for the Stormwater Utility are sent out on a quarterly basis:
    • The Jan. billing is for the prior 3-month period of Oct. 1 - Dec. 31.
    • The April billing is for the prior 3-month period of Jan. 1 - March 31.
    • The July billing is for the prior 3-month period of April 1 - June 30.
    • The Oct. billing is for the prior 3-month period of July 1 - Sept. 30.

How is the ERU value calculated?

The ERU Value was calculated by averaging the impervious surfaces of a single-family residential property in Superior. The measurements included the footprint of the home plus sidewalks, driveways, garages, and any other buildings.

1 ERU = 2933 square feet = the average impervious surface of a single-family home.

Stormwater fees are itemized and are billed along with sewage, recycling, and garbage fees on the Quarterly Utility Bill. For more information, please visit the Utility Billing Page.

2023 Updated Impervious Surface Data for Commercial Properties

Updates take effect on Jan. 1, 2023, and will appear on the 2023 April bill. This will not affect residential stormwater bills.

Non-Residential Stormwater Fees are based on the amount of Impervious Surfaces (IS) on a property. IS includes gravel and concrete sidewalks, driveways, and roads. These kinds of surfaces do not allow stormwater (rain or snowmelt) to soak into the soil. Questions? Call Utility Billing at (715) 395-5833.

New aerial imagery allows the city to update records about the amount of IS on commercial properties, as seen in the example below.

IS (2)IS (1)IS (3)

Image 1. 2021 imagery, impervious surfaces in gray.  Image 2. Fall of 2022 imagery shows new construction on the property. Image 3. The same parcel is updated to calculate the current IS area.