Storm Water Utility

The City of The Colony has always placed a high priority on the surrounding lakes, creeks and streams within the City limits. Federal and State Mandates have increased the demand for Storm Water Improvements and Management, thereby requiring a significant increase in the amount of funding devoted to Storm Water Management Programs.  

Operating & Maintenance Costs

Historically, the City has paid the operating and maintenance costs of all the storm drainage systems within the City through property taxes or other sources within the City's funds.  This was an easy system to administer, but there was no direct relationship between property value and storm water demand.  Rather than increase property taxes or other utility charges to cover the increasing storm drainage system costs, the City has adopted a Storm Water Utility which allows storm drainage system maintenance and management costs to be spread among users in a more equitable manner.   

Municipal Utility Drainage System Ordinances

To adequately fund the growing demand and increasing costs related to the maintenance and upgrade of existing storm water drainage systems, as well as the development of watershed drainage plans, flood control measures, water quality programs, administrative costs and storm water related Capital Improvement Projects, the City Council passed the Municipal Utility Drainage System Ordinances:  # 04-1571 and # 05-1616 (Ordinance Chapter 12, Article VI, Section 12-108).

Benefit to Residents & Businesses

Development and associated construction activities result in the disturbance of soils, removal of natural vegetation and are large contributors to storm water pollution.  These activities can lead to erosion problems, and if appropriate preventative measures are not undertaken, the soils can be washed into storm drainage systems and into nearby lakes and streams during rainfall events.  This can cause blockage and pollution in our lakes, creeks and streams.  Erosion can also occur in the stream channels and large sections of soil can be washed away and deposited downstream during rain events.  

Another factor associated with development is the conversion of natural land to large areas of paved, impervious surfaces such as streets, buildings, rooftops and parking lots which prevents natural infiltration into native soils and creates even larger volumes of storm water that must be handled by the City’s storm water systems.  By converting land from an undisturbed condition to a developed state, the rainwater that previously soaked into the ground now becomes urban runoff which must be effectively managed by the City.  

Storm Water Hotline

The City’s approved Storm Water Management Plan includes Best Management Practices (BMPs) that are being implemented by the City to reduce storm water pollution to the "maximum extent practicable," as EPA regulations require. As part of these adopted BMPs, a storm water hotline number has been established by the City to allow the general public to call and  report violations and/or express concerns related to illicit discharges, illegal dumping or other non-storm water discharges to the City’s storm water collection system. The public can also call regarding any general comments or implementation questions regarding The Colony's adopted storm water management program. For reporting these concerns, please call the storm water hotline at 972-624-3129.

The plan was first adopted in 2008, with subsequent updates as applicable.

Storm Water Notice of Intent Application and Storm Water Management Program

A copy of the complete Notice of Intent Application and Storm Water Management Program, subsequent revisions to the application, the Executive Director’s Preliminary Decision and copy of General Permit Number TXR040000 and the Fact Sheet, are available for public viewing at City of The Colony City Hall, 6800 Main Street, The Colony, Texas 75056.