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Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved a plan to establish the Stormwater Management Utility as a standalone agency by Jan. 1, 2027. The agency will separate from Greater Cincinnati Water Works and focus on stormwater infrastructure, flood protection and resilience. The move follows major flooding events across the city this summer.
Cincinnati City Council has unanimously approved a plan to create a standalone stormwater agency by 2027, separating the Stormwater Management Utility (SMU) from Greater Cincinnati Water Works.
The move comes after major flooding across Cincinnati this summer and is intended to give the city a dedicated agency focused on stormwater infrastructure, flood protection and resilience.
Cincinnati approves standalone stormwater agency
City Council approved Mayor Aftab Pureval’s motion directing the city administration to establish the Stormwater Management Utility as a standalone agency by Jan. 1, 2027.
The SMU currently operates as a division of Greater Cincinnati Water Works. Under the new structure, it will become a separate city agency reporting to the city manager.
The transition will bring stormwater planning, infrastructure, flood protection, compliance and resilience efforts under one dedicated agency.
City officials will also review stormwater-related work, employees, funding and services currently handled by other departments to determine what should move to the new agency.
Flooding drives Cincinnati’s stormwater changes
The restructuring follows a series of severe flooding events that affected Cincinnati and surrounding communities during the summer.
City officials have said the standalone structure could give stormwater officials greater control over planning, budgeting and investments needed to reduce flooding risks.
The SMU oversees a large network of infrastructure, including more than 300 miles of storm sewers, about 30,500 inlet and intake structures and more than 6,000 storm-sewer manholes.
The utility also manages the Mill Creek Barrier Dam and four pump stations.
Stormwater agency will have dedicated funding
The SMU is primarily funded through a stormwater fee paid by Cincinnati property owners.
The fee generates about $31 million in annual revenue, according to WVXU. The funding is dedicated to stormwater-related services rather than the city’s general fund.
The city is also conducting a cost-of-service study to examine stormwater rates and future funding needs.
SMU Director Jason Fleming said staffing and funding will be among the issues addressed during the transition to an independent agency.
SMU and MSD have different roles
The creation of the standalone agency does not mean Cincinnati’s entire sewer system will be placed under the SMU.
The Stormwater Management Utility focuses on stormwater drainage, flood protection and related infrastructure.
The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, or MSD, handles sanitary and combined sewer systems.
The two systems can interact because Cincinnati has areas where stormwater enters combined sewers, but the agencies have different primary responsibilities.
When will the new agency begin?
Cincinnati is targeting Jan. 1, 2027, for the standalone Stormwater Management Utility to be established.
However, the full transition is expected to take longer as the city works through staffing, funding, organizational and operational changes.
The city will continue evaluating how stormwater responsibilities are divided across departments as it builds the new agency.
For Cincinnati residents, the change could eventually mean a more centralized city operation for stormwater infrastructure and flood-related planning.
FAQs
Why is Cincinnati creating a standalone stormwater agency?
The city says the new structure will provide a dedicated agency for stormwater planning, infrastructure and flood protection. The decision follows significant flooding events during the summer.
Will the new agency be part of Greater Cincinnati Water Works?
No. The Stormwater Management Utility currently operates within Greater Cincinnati Water Works but is expected to become a separate city agency.
Who will the standalone stormwater agency report to?
The new agency will report to Cincinnati’s city manager.
How much stormwater infrastructure does Cincinnati manage?
The SMU oversees more than 300 miles of storm sewers, about 30,500 inlet and intake structures and more than 6,000 storm-sewer manholes. It also manages the Mill Creek Barrier Dam and four pump stations.
