I think I’ve settled on “Prohibiting is prohibited.” Here are some reminiscences from the author of “Sous les pavés…”:

http://users.skynet.be/ddz/mai68/temoignages/souslespaves.html

Every time it rains in NYC, the stormwater landing on impervious (aka non-vegetated or non-porously paved surfaces) flows down the drain and flows through the sewer system to the Wastewater Treatment plants for treatment. If the treatment plants are above capacity, the stormwater, combined with raw sewage, ends up overflowing into our waterways, not good for fish or triathletes.

The stormwater rate is included on a 1:1 ratio in the potable water-delivery rates in NYC (and in many most other cities.) Users who use little or no potable water, or at least generate a disproportionate amount of stormwater compared to potable usage, are esssentially recieving a subsidy on their use of the sewer system. Those users include parking lot owners, big box stores, NYCDOT and NYSDOT roadways (another hidden cost that drivers impose on our city) and The Port Authority’s airport runways.

Of course, the subsidy is provided by the City’s poorest residents, since they use more potable water than wealthier residents (they live at higher densities, which means more toilet flushing, they go out to eat less often, go on vacation less often, etc.)

So, when water rates go up, those who suffer most are those who can least afford it. And, on July 1, Water Rates will rise 14.5%, the largest single year jump in recent history.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press_releases/08-13pr.shtml

When water rates go up, so to, does rent. One of the primary factors the Rent Guidelines Board uses to determine hike is increase in utility rates.
(The Rent Stabilization Law sets forth the factors that must be considered by the Board prior to the adoption of rent guidelines. These include: (1) the economic condition of the residential real estate industry in N.Y.C. including such factors as the prevailing and projected
(i) real estate taxes and sewer and water rates…
Source: http://www.housingnyc.com/html/guidelines/guidelines.html )

So, essentially, not only are the poorest folks subsidizing others’ stormwater usage, their rents are rising because of it…and the larger the increase, the closer an apartment comes to becoming market-rate.

If all this is confusing, it is no wonder. Water and pavement were never meant to meet.

A great article on Stormwater User Fee can be found here:
http://www.stormh2o.com/may-2008/program-funding-management.aspx

If the NYC Water Board http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwaterboard/html/board_members/index.shtml began billing for stormwater separate from potable water, and as a real reflection on usage, it would instantaneously do wonders for DePave projects, protect affordable housing, reduce combined sewer overflow, and perhaps even reduce traffic in this small town on the Hudson.