The town of Hillsborough has proposed a new stormwater utility and fees.

The stormwater utility would help the town improve its current system and pay for improvements.

“We’ve been concerned about stormwater for quite some time,” said Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens, “it’s the largest source of pollution.”

The town is hoping to reduce the amount of pollution that reaches Falls Lake and the Eno River, which is the town’s main source of drinking water.

“This is something we really need to deal with, it’s the quality of drinking water,” said Stevens. “And a lot of that has to do with, two things, it’s nutrients that go into the water, it’s runoff from farms.”

Pollutants in the water can affect local eco-systems and make it more difficult for water treatment plants.

The fees will be based on property type. Non-residential properties will pay on a tiered system depending on property size, while residential homes will be charged a $50 flat fee.

“It takes years to deal with this, we are well along our way but as we are seeing more construction and development in this area we are seeing the stormwater doesn’t get any better,” said Stevens.

A public information meeting will take place on January 26 at Hillsborough’s Town Hall.

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