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DEP Home : Water : Water Quality Protection Charge Adjustment 2008-2009
For questions about the water quality protection charge adjustment for 2008-2009 contact DEP:
311 Email: askdep@montgomerycountymd.gov
Use the link below to view your Water Quality Protection Charge (WQPC) for Levy Year 2009, including your credit and total Levy Year 2009 charge. To determine whether your property has received a credit, click on the adjustment tab and enter your tax account or street address.
Water Quality Protection Charge (WQPC) Application
In 2007 the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) updated impervious surface area calculations for most of the County and sent bills to apartments, condominium owners, homeowner associations, and commercial businesses based on the updated calculations. Because DEP did not finish updating the calculations for the entire County, and to reduce the extent of the WQPC increase, the County Executive announced that some homeowner associations, apartment building owners, condominium owners, and commercial property owners would receive a one-time reduction in the WQPC, which was included in the tax bill they received in July 2008. Refunds were issued for any dollar amount over $100, and credits were issued for amounts under $100. For property owners eligible for a WQPC credit, the credit was applied toward the tax bill for Levy Year 2009. Single-family homeowners and townhome owners were not eligible for the refund because they are assessed a flat fee that is not based on the calculation of impervious surface.
In Levy Year 2009, DEP completed the impervious surface area calculations for all properties in the County. To reduce the extent of the charge in Levy Year 2009, the County Council approved phasing in the impervious surface area increases over the next three years for multifamily property owners. Therefore, this category of property owners will be charged one-third of the increase in Levy Year 2009, two-thirds of the increase in Levy Year 2010, and the full increase in Levy Year 2011. This phase-in applies to multifamily property owners only. The County Council approved a one-time waiver in Levy Year 2009 on the impervious area increases for associated nonresidential properties.
The WQPC is based on the amount of impervious surface of the property and is calculated in equivalent residential units (ERUs). The WQPC is assessed on all residential properties and certain nonresidential properties. The table below shows the charge assessed for each type of property.
Apartments and condominiums (multi-family residential) Charge based on amount of imperviousa surface
Associated nonresidential (any property that is not a residential property, including commercial, retail, common areas of homeowner associations, churches, etc.) Charge based on amount of imperviousa surface within a residential drainage area
Single-family homes $45.50b
Townhomes and some condominiums $15.02b
a Impervious surfaces include roofs, driveways, parking lots, and streets. Impervious surfaces prevent precipitation from soaking into the ground, This excess water carries pollutants into streams and rivers. Learn more about why the Water Quality Protection Charge is levied in the County. b Single family home owners and townhome owners are not eligible for the refund because they are assessed a flat fee, that is not based on the calculation of impervious surface.
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