Cincinnati City Council has unanimously approved a measure directing city administration to establish the city’s Stormwater Management Utility (SMU) as a standalone agency by the start of 2027.

SMU currently operates as a division of Greater Cincinnati Water Works. Under the approved measure, the agency will report to the city manager and assume responsibility for the city’s stormwater management, infrastructure, flood protection, stormwater compliance and resilience functions.

The transition comes as Cincinnati responds to increased concerns about localized flooding, including significant flash flooding reported across the region this summer. SMU Director Jason Fleming will lead the effort to establish the standalone agency.

The city also plans to review stormwater-related activities, personnel, funding and services currently housed in other departments to determine whether they should be consolidated under SMU.

SMU manages more than 300 miles of storm sewers, approximately 30,500 inlet and intake structures, more than 6,000 storm sewer manholes, the Mill Creek Barrier Dam and four pump stations. The utility is funded through a storm drainage service charge that generates approximately $31 million annually, according to city budget documents.

Cincinnati has operated SMU within Water Works since 2016. The utility’s funding is restricted to stormwater management activities. The city’s current budget also includes $115,000 for a cost-of-service study related to a potential future stormwater rate increase to support drainage system improvements.

The restructuring will separate the city’s stormwater management functions from the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, which remains responsible for sanitary sewer services and efforts to address combined sewer overflows.