Bostonians Could be Slapped With New 'Rain Tax'

Those living in the city of Boston could soon be slapped with a “rain tax.” The Boston Water and Sewer Commission is exploring the implementation of a storm water management fee, according to a Boston Herald report.

Storm water is considered rainwater that runs off streets, rooftops and other surfaces. It can contaminate bodies of water due to the pollutants in often contains, such as gasoline and oil.

In an effort to abide by the U.S. Clean Water Act, Boston is looking to impose a fee to cover the costs of upgrading the city’s storm water drainage system. The tax will also be put towards improving water quality.

A federal court settlement in 2012 requires the Water and Sewer Commission to take steps to “minimize discharge of sewage and other pollutants from its storm drain and sanitary sewer systems into Boston Harbor and its tributaries.”

Several cities and towns across Massachusetts and the United States have already imposed fees, including Newton, Reading and Chicopee.