About the Program
Established in 1998, the city's storm water utility was designed to help meet the drainage and water quality needs in Blaine. The first storm water charges were billed in March 2000. The emphasis of the storm water program is on expanding the scope and frequency of maintenance activities to benefit water quality and reduce flooding problems. Impervious surface area is the basis for how utility customers are charged. They include:
- Driveways
- Gravel roads
- Oiled macadam or other hard surfaces
- Packed earthen materials
- Parking lots
- Patios
- Rooftops
- Walkways
These hardened surfaces inhibit the natural absorption of water into the land and cause more of the rainfall to runoff and at higher flow rates. Undeveloped property and property outside Blaine city limits are exempt from storm water charges.
Services Provided
- Compliance monitoring
- Street sweeping
- Catch basin and ditch cleaning
- Spoils disposal
- Capital project development