What Is An Impervious Surface?
Impervious surfaces are typically paved, hard surfaces that allow little to no rain and snow to penetrate, so the water runs off and into the city’s wastewater system. These impervious surfaces can be roofs, parking lots, walkways, patios, sidewalks, and streets.
Why Do You Charge An Impervious Surface Fee?
During heavy storms, a greater impact is put on our wastewater system. The system may reach capacity, meaning that untreated water may go to the Rocky River and Lake Erie. The city is required to make necessary improvements to our aging sewer system, and the Impervious Surface Fee helps pay for these improvements. You can find more information on the city’s progress toward a modern sewer system on our Clean Water Lakewood page. This type of fee is standard practice in Ohio.
Current Fees
For residential customers, the 2025 Impervious Surface Fee will be a $4/month.
Commercial, institutional, industrial, and large multifamily customers will also see an Impervious Surface Fee on their bills beginning Jan. 1, 2022. Their fee will be based on the amount of paved and hard surfaces, such as parking lots and roofs, that are on the property and will be charged at $3 per 2,800 square feet (Lakewood’s Equivalent Residential Unit – ERU) of impervious area. This fee structure reflects the fact that impervious surfaces place more of a demand on the City’s wet weather infrastructure because water that runs off these surfaces must be captured and treated.