Stormwater commonly refers to runoff from rain and snow/ice melt. In natural settings, storm is able to slowly soak into the surface or flow overland into adjacent streams and rivers. This process relies on a abundance of pervious surfaces such as grasslands, pastures, meadows, forests, lawns and other natural landscapes. In urbanized areas, such as Churchill Borough, these natural surfaces are often replaced with hard or impervious surfaces such as houses, streets, parking lots, patios and other similar structures. The result of this development is a reduced amount of natural area available to absorb stormwater. This means that a large amount of stormwater ends up flowing, at a faster pace, over the hard surfaces where it tends to collect chemicals and debris along the way. When not properly controlled, stormwater can overwhelm streams, cause flooding, soil erosion and surface water pollution.

As is common, Churchill Borough has established a stormwater management system, but over time, that system has aged and requires repairs and replacements.

Without a Stromwater Authority, the maintenance of the system is paid for from the Borough’s general fund, which is mostly funded through real estate taxes. This means that tax-exempt property owners are not contributing to the system, and is also funding availability is directly impacted by competition for other spending priorities. The result is that funding for system upkeep has been inadequate, unstable and unable to keep pace with the growing need for system management, maintenance, and expansion. To help resolve this problem, the Borough has created a Stormwater Authority with a stormwater fee for all property owners in Churchill Borough.

The average residential property owner in Churchill Borough has 3,051 square feet of impervious surface. This amount of impervious area is considered to one (1) Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU), (i.e. residential lots with a detached garage, driveway, accessory structures, etc.). Each residential property will be billed $115 per year, equal to $9.58 per month. All non-residential parcels such as businesses, houses of worship, apartment buildings, factories, parks, and other open spaces with hard surfaces will be billed a multiplier of the ERU value based on the actual square footage of impervious surface on the property. 

If you have a question about your bill, or if you think your bill was calculated incorrectly, you can contact the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments, the billing agency, by calling, emailing or mailing your questions to:

Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments

300 Oxford Drive - Suite 330

Monroeville, PA 15146

412-858-5115

Email: Utility@TCVCOG.com

Website: www.TCVCOG.com

In addition, you may pay your bill online at: https://tcvcog.authoritypay.com/

All meetings for Churchill Borough Stormwater Authority will be held at the Churchill Borough Building. 2300 William Penn Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15235

 To view Stormwater Authority agendas, visit: 

https://ecode360.com/CH1558/documents/Agendas?category=Stormwater%20Authority%20Meeting

1. What is the Borough Stormwater Authority?

The Borough Stormwater Authority is a public authority established by Churchill Borough to own, operate, maintain, and improve the local stormwater system. Its mission is to reduce flooding, protect property, improve water quality, and ensure compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.

2. Why did the Borough create a Stormwater Authority?

The Stormwater Authority was created to provide a dedicated and reliable funding source for stormwater infrastructure. This allows the Borough to address aging systems, increased flooding, and stricter regulatory requirements without relying on the general tax fund. This approach is more equitable because all properties that generate stormwater contribute, not just property taxpayers.

3. What is stormwater?

Stormwater is rainwater or snowmelt that flows over rooftops, streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and other hard surfaces. As it flows, stormwater can carry pollutants into local streams and waterways.

4. What is the Borough stormwater fee?

The stormwater fee is a user fee charged to properties within the Borough that generate stormwater runoff. The fee supports the operation, maintenance, repair, and improvement of the Borough’s stormwater system.

5. Why is a stormwater fee necessary?

Stormwater infrastructure requires ongoing maintenance and long-term investment. The stormwater fee ensures funding is used only for stormwater purposes and that costs are shared fairly based on how much runoff a property generates.

6. How is the stormwater fee calculated?

The average residential property in Churchill Borough contains 3,051 square feet of impervious surface, which is defined as one (1) Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). Impervious surfaces include rooftops, garages, driveways, and other hard surfaces.

• Each residential property is billed $115 per year (or $9.58 per month).
• Non-residential properties—such as businesses, apartment buildings, houses of worship, and other developed parcels—are billed based on the actual amount of impervious surface, calculated as a multiple of the ERU.

Example:
A commercial property with large buildings and parking areas may equal 100 ERUs and would be billed $11,500 per year.

7. What is an impervious surface?

Impervious surfaces are areas that do not allow water to soak into the ground, including buildings, garages, driveways, sidewalks, streets, and parking lots.

8. Who must pay the stormwater fee?

All developed properties within Churchill Borough that generate stormwater runoff are required to pay the fee. This includes residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, and Borough-owned properties.

9. Do tax-exempt or nonprofit properties have to pay?

Yes. The stormwater fee is a user fee, not a tax. Properties that generate stormwater runoff must pay the fee regardless of tax-exempt or nonprofit status.

10. How will stormwater fee revenue be used?

All stormwater fee revenue is restricted to stormwater-related purposes, including:

• Maintaining storm drains, pipes, and inlets
• Reducing flooding and erosion
• Improving water quality
• Meeting state and federal permit requirements

Stormwater funds may also be used for capital improvement projects, including but not limited to:

• Replacing aging underground pipes
• Upgrading infrastructure to include green stormwater practices where feasible
• Constructing detention or storage facilities to manage large storms
• Installing green stormwater infrastructure to reduce demand on the existing system

11. What if I believe my stormwater fee is incorrect?

Property owners may request a review if they believe their impervious area or property classification is inaccurate. The Borough provides a formal review and appeal process administered by the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments (TCVCOG). Contact TCVCOG for more information on how to request a review.

12. How will the stormwater fee be billed?

Stormwater bills are issued by the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments (TCVCOG), a multi-municipal organization of which Churchill Borough is a member.

TCVCOG provides shared stormwater services to member communities, including billing, maintenance coordination, and equipment ownership—such as the vactor truck used to clean stormwater inlets. This shared approach reduces costs and improves efficiency. TCVCOG also administers stormwater billing for Monroeville.

13. Is the stormwater fee a tax?

No. The stormwater fee is a user fee based on the amount of stormwater runoff a property generates, not property value.

14. What happens if the stormwater fee is not paid?

Failure to pay the stormwater fee may result in late fees, interest, liens, or other enforcement actions as permitted by Borough ordinance and state law.

15. How is the Stormwater Authority governed?

The Stormwater Authority is governed by a five-member board appointed in accordance with Borough and state requirements. Meetings are open to the public, and financial records are subject to audit and reporting requirements. The Board will meet quarterly at 6:30 pm. January, April, July and October. 

16. How does stormwater management benefit residents?

Effective stormwater management:

• Reduces flooding and property damage
• Protects homes, roads, and businesses
• Improves local streams and waterways
• Enhances public safety
• Supports long-term community resilience

17. How can residents get involved with the Stormwater Authority?

Residents are encouraged to attend public meetings, provide comments, and stay informed through Borough communications. A core mission of the Churchill Stormwater Authority is public education and engagement.

The Borough also hosts educational events to help residents learn about stormwater regulations and best practices. Recent programs, such as a rain barrel training class, filled to capacity. Watch for future opportunities to participate.

18. What regulations must the Borough comply with?

The Borough must comply with state and federal regulations, including Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirements. These regulations require pollution reduction, inspections, public education, and reporting.

19. How is stormwater different from sanitary sewer or drinking water systems?

Stormwater systems carry rainwater and snowmelt, not wastewater or drinking water. Stormwater often flows directly to streams without treatment, making pollution prevention especially important.

20. How does effective stormwater management save money?

Effective stormwater management reduces flooding and property damage, lowers long-term infrastructure costs, and prevents pollution that would otherwise require costly cleanup.