Chattanooga homeowners can save up to 75% on stormwater fee by reducing runoff

Contributed Photo by Matt Whitaker / Matt Whitaker, a local landscape architect, has received a gold rating through the RainSmart Certification program, which means he qualifies for a 75% reduction in his annual stormwater fee. He is growing native plants on his property and has taken steps to ensure that as much rainwater stays on his land as possible. Contributed Photo by Matt Whitaker / Matt Whitaker, a local landscape architect, has received a gold rating through the RainSmart Certification program, which means he qualifies for a 75% reduction in his annual stormwater fee. He is growing native plants on his property and has taken steps to ensure that as much rainwater stays on his land as possible.

By David Floyd August 25, 2022 5 min read

Chattanooga is competing with Knoxville to see how many homeowners and elected officials the cities can encourage to eliminate or drastically reduce rainfall runoff from their property, which limits pollutants entering local waterways and alleviates burdens on the city’s stormwater system.

The NoogaKnox Challenge began March 22 with the goal of getting the most people RainSmart Yard certified by the first day of fall, Sept. 22. As of Thursday afternoon, 25 Chattanoogans and 21 Knoxville residents have received the certification.

It’s also an opportunity for homeowners to save up to 75% on their annual stormwater fees. In Chattanooga, single-family homes are billed at a standard rate of $183.54 per year, according to a news release from the city, which could fall to $45.88 per year if property owners receive the highest level of certification.

Homeowners can receive a bronze, silver or gold rating based on their property’s condition, and depending on the rating the yard receives, residents can qualify for a 25%, 50% or 75% discount.