Stormwater credits for Baltimore City

Friends, as you probably know, Baltimore City is one of ten Maryland jurisdictions that is required to create stormwater utility fees to help it manage and clean its water runoff. 

The Baltimore City Council will be voting on the City's new stormwater utility fee and credit structure  June 11. 

Advocates working for the improvement of our water system are turning to the faith community to help.

In one of their outreach pamphlets, they write:

People look to their house of worship for guidance in matters of ethics, conscience and service. Caring for the environment is a matter of faith. Religious institutions can take the lead by showing their support for this fair fee and also by working together to reduce polluted runoff from their properties through such actions as planting rain gardens, installing rain barrels and using pervious paving surfaces. Even in urban areas like Baltimore there are many opportunities for clean water projects.

If you support improving the health of our streams and making our communities safer and healthier, please contact your Baltimore City Council member before their June 11th meeting and tell them:

1) It’s time for Baltimore to take major steps to fix its inadequate stormwater system.

2) I support the utility fee on polluted stormwater runoff to pay for these urgently needed repairs.

3) The fee should be applied fairly across the board to all property owners.

4) The fee should have a credit that encourages property owners to take steps to reduce runoff from their properties; in doing so, they will improve the quality of our waterways and reduce the fee they pay.

To find your City Council representative, visit: http://cityservices.baltimorecity.gov/citycouncil/

I also have a flyer about credits that can be used to reduce your fees while improving the health of our waters, and our community. 

Email me at ncardin@comcast.net if you would like me to send that to you.

BJEN sees this as a wonderful opportunity to work with congregations who are ripe for improving their water management. Many of our congregations have land that could be enhanced, made more beautiful and ecologically productive, and  integrated into the congregation's purpose and programming. Outdoor chapels, meditative spaces, natural playgrounds, orchards and shaded areas can all enhance both the physical and programmatic elements of congregational life, and improve our community's water quality!  

Now, through credits and incentives, such transformations that were out of reach are suddenly more affordable.  In addition, more and more governmental and non-profit organizations are eager to partner with congregations to plant trees, put in raingardens and assist with other water retention initiatives. And they come with grant funding to help pay for the planning and the work.

This is a win/win. Our communities will be healthier, more efficient and productive in their use of natural resources and more beautiful. What could be better?