Most Nashville Water Bills To Increase

NASHVILLE, TN — Nearly every business in town and 85 percent of Nashville homeowners will see an increase in their water bill soon.

The Metro Council approved by voice vote a plan from Mayor Megan Barry to raise the stormwater fee for the first time since 2009. Under the plan, the monthly fee will double to $6 for residential properties with more than 2,000 square feet of impervious surfaces — paved surfaces like driveways and sidewalks and rooftops that prevent water from entering the ground. That covers roughly 85 percent of the ratepayers in the city. Residential properties with less than 2,000 square feet will continue paying $1.50 per month.

The city had capped the monthly fee for nonresidential property owners at $400 monthly, but the plan approved Tuesday raises the cap to $1,300 for nonresidential property of more than 1 million square feet, which includes large properties like the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Opry Mills, Vanderbilt University and the airport.

Fees will go up for all residential properties with more than 2,000 square feet of impervious area and all nonresidential properties with more than 6,000 square feet. Increases vary based on the amount of impervious area.
Residential ratepayers with less than 2,000 square feet of impervious surface will continue paying $1.50 per month under the mayor’s plan. Ratepayers with less than 400 square feet will continue having no stormwater fee.
Monthly rates are currently capped for nonresidential property owners at $400 regardless of size. This cap will increase under the new plan to $1,300 a month for nonresidential owners with more than 1 million square feet.
Fifty-five nonresidential owners fall into this top category. Some of the largest include Ryman, which owns the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center and Opry Mills; Vanderbilt University; and the Nashville International Airport.

Currently, the stormwater fee generates $14.4 million which will increase to $34.6 million. Metro Water Services says hundreds of millions are needed to update the city's aged stormwater system, the nation's fifth-largest.

Metro is one of the view urban water departments which is not subsidized by tax dollars. In fact, Metro Water Services customers in fact subsidize the Tennessee Titans. Under the 1996 referendum which brought the team to town, $4 million is transferred from MWS annually to retire the bonds used to build what is now Nissan Stadium. Water and sewer customers have paid $88 million to date and the $4 million subsidy will continue until 2026.

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