Council Votes, Stormwater Study Will Move To Phase II In Princeton

PRINCETON, NJ – The Council on Monday voted on a resolution to continue the stormwater study in the Municipality.

The vote came after Clay Emerson of Princeton Hydro made a presentation during the meeting. The next phase of the study will not exceed the amount of $149,853, according to the resolution.

The stormwater study has been spread across four phases, with the Municipality currently in Phase I.

“We are trying to answer some key questions upfront and get an understanding of what it might mean for Princeton specifically and then ultimately decide to move to Phase II which will be a deeper dive,” Emerson said.

According to Phase I research, increase in rainstorms has increased the problem of stormwater runoff in Princeton.

In 2021, Princeton decided to evaluate the need for Stormwater Utility and in 2022 Princeton Hydro was roped in to conduct the study.

During Phase I of the process, several interviews were conducted with the team which included Municipal staff. It was concluded that current services and expenditures was estimated to be $760,000 a year.

One of the important takeaways from Phase I of the study was that revenue capacity must increase to address the system's needs.

“Not only are we dealing with rainfall that seems to be coming shorter duration and higher intensity, but there’s also the New Jersey MS4 permit compliance landscape that has changed recently. That’s going to ask more of municipalities such as Princeton,” Emerson said.

Princeton must meet its MS4 permit compliance, which went into effect on January 1, 2023, and the associated increased level of service that will be required for compliance.

In 2019, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the Clean Stormwater and Flood Reduction Act into law, giving municipalities the ability to create stormwater utilities and establish fees.

In Princeton, stormwater is typically met in a reactive rather than a proactive fashion and it would benefit the Municipality to be proactive about it, Emerson said.

Phase II of the study will include an in-depth analysis of costs, rates program plan and educating the public.

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