In 2005 Centralia formed a Storm and Surface Water Utility and established a stormwater fee. This was done for the following reasons:
An expanding population in the city
Increasing development and impervious surface Inadequate drainage in some areas due to non-existent or aging stormwater systems
New federal/state regulations require that the City develop and implement a stormwater management program designed to prevent water quality degradation and other stormwater problems.
Stormwater starts when the rain picks up pollutants from streets, sidewalks, and lawns. When it quickly drains into our streams and wetlands without any treatment to remove the pollutants, those pollutants can harm people, fish and animals. Too much runoff at once can cause streams to overflow causing localized flooding. It can also erode the stream banks, damaging property and sending muddy polluted water downstream.
