Stormwater Funding Overview
Charleston County Public Works
Charleston County’s Stormwater Management Program serves to protect, maintain, and enhance water quality and the environment throughout the County, as well as improve the short-term and long-term public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizens.
Protect. Maintain. Enhance.
Our Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program not only serves the citizens of Unincorporated Charleston County but also the citizens of the City of Folly Beach, City of Isle of Palms, Town of James Island, City of Lincolnville, and Town of Sullivan’s Island through an Intergovernmental Agreement.
These MS4 programs are mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), delegated to South Carolina Division of Environmental Services (DES), who assigns responsibility to local governments.
Charleston County Managed MS4 Areas
The Stormwater Program primarily operates using an annual Stormwater Utility Fee, issued to residents and commercial businesses in MS4 areas. This generates ~$3 Million each year.
There are three general items under which this funding is allocated.
Annual Regulatory Expenditure
57%
Includes Plan Reviews, Inspections, Pollution Prevention, Education, and Outreach.
The graph at right further defines the annual regulatory allocations.
Stormwater Maintenance Expenditures
28%
Includes asset and project maintenance.
The map at right contains a total of 12,534 Stormwater related Tasks from 2022-2024. Areas with a high incidence of tasks in this timeframe appear as yellow.
Cost by Asset
Total costs associated with Stormwater activities per asset between 2022-2024.
Capital Expenditures
15%
Stormwater projects receive an average of $450,000 per year from the Utility Fee. Due to the complex nature or long lead time of these projects, most are only partially funded until a viable solution is determined and as funding becomes available.
Click on the map or the list of projects to view details and project descriptions. *Project statuses are updated quarterly.
For more information on Stormwater Annual Expenditures, please reach out to the Stormwater department at stormwater@charlestoncounty.org.
