How Surface Water Utility Fees are Spent

The Surface Water Management Utility Fees paid by residents of Unincorporated Pierce County are used to:  

1. Preserve and protect water quality in our surface waters and natural waterways  

2. Support a flood resilient community  

3. Protect and improve habitat for fish and other aquatic species  

Surface Water Management actively works on these goals by: 

• Designing and constructing capital projects that improve water quality and reduce the risk of flooding   
• Advocate for sound floodplain management practices through development regulations and continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 
• Complying with our NPDES permit by actions that include:  
  • Technical assistance to residents and businesses  
  • Environmental monitoring  
  • Responding to resident reports of stormwater pollution 
  • Interjurisdictional coordination on common goals
  • Maintaining stormwater infrastructure 
  • Fair, consistent development practices in managing stormwater for new and redevelopment   
• Planning for the future: Developing and implementing plans and programs that: 
  • Improve water quality in our lakes, rivers and streams 
  • Reduce the impacts of flooding 
  • Improve and restore the habitat for salmon and shellfish   
• Partnering with others and recognizing that others share our mission.  By working together, we are able to advance important initiatives that help meet our goals. Some of our partnership efforts include:  
  • Floodplains for the Future  
  • South Sound Clean Water Partners  
  • Pierce Conservation District 
  • Tacoma Pierce County Health Department 
• A new focus for Pierce County Surface Water Management will begin in 2022 as our team supports a newly formed Lake Management District for Spanaway Lake.  

The Pierce County Surface Water Management Utility has been successful at leveraging SWM Utility fees with grants over the years. In the 2-year budget for 2020/2021, $30 million in SWM Utility Fees were matched by over $17 million in grant funds: 

In the 2-year budget, for 2022/2023, our grants are matching 1:1 with the capital program dollars to be spent.  

You can read the details of our 6-year Capital Facilities Plan and Surface Water Improvement Program on the following page:  SWIP | Pierce County, WA - Official Website (piercecountywa.gov)