City of Lambertville – Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study

The City of Lambertville contracted Princeton Hydro and WSP to evaluate Lambertville’s need for, and ability to create, a fee‑based Stormwater Utility. Lambertville faces stormwater management issues primarily due to its geographic and infrastructural characteristics. Situated along the Delaware River, the city is prone to flooding, which is exacerbated by aging and inadequate stormwater infrastructure. Dense urban development results in a high percentage of impervious surfaces, such as roads and buildings, that prevent proper absorption of rainwater, leading to increased runoff and strain on existing drainage systems.

Lambertville’s stormwater infrastructure includes more than 530 identified stormwater inlets, a series of aging culverts, and miles of stormwater conveyance piping—much of it in unknown condition—with many structures serving as components of cross‑jurisdictional systems, all paired with repeated devastation from flooding.

The project team completed a Lambertville Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study, which included the following components:

Programmatic and Organizational Review: Evaluation of existing stormwater infrastructure operation and maintenance practices, as well as current program organization and administration.

Gaps and Funding Analysis and Future Program Needs: Review and presentation of recent and projected capital project needs and baseline costs provided by Lambertville, along with an assessment of current revenue sources.

Land Cover Analysis, Digitization of Impervious Cover, and Equity of Current Costs: Digitization and evaluation of land cover data based on the potential use of an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) rate structure and the quantification of billing units. Assessment of the equity of current stormwater costs and the potential impact of a fee‑based stormwater utility on different landowner categories.

User Fee Rate Options and Summary: Evaluation of how revenue generation might shift from a general‑fund, tax‑based model to a fee‑based model, including a summary of available rate structures designed to balance equity, cost, and administrative ease.

Policy Development and Legislation Review: Examination of the policy framework for delivering stormwater management services under a utility model, including policies related to extent of service, billing, and funding. Topics included mission and program priorities, level of service, organizational structure, and credit policy.

Public Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement: Formation and facilitation of a Stormwater Focus Group composed of key stakeholders, as well as hosting a public meeting to gather feedback, ensure transparency, and support community participation.

Funding for the Lambertville Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study was provided through a grant from the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.