DuPage County Shared Services Program

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2019

In an effort to reduce government redundancies, DuPage County’s Stormwater Management Department developed a shared services program to assist municipalities and townships with meeting water quality and stormwater management goals and initiatives.To do so, DuPage entered into intergovernmental agreements (IGA) with 41 municipalities and townships to form a countywide water quality program. In addition to aligning water quality goals countywide, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes this program – the first of a kind in Illinois – as a single permit holder under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Prior to entering into these IGAs, DuPage County conducted water quality services for NPDES compliance on behalf of local communities that saved taxpayers countywide an estimated $4.44 million annually. By further reducing regulatory redundancies and assisting in local projects, the countywide water quality program is saving local communities an estimated additional $1.56 million annually, as well as a one-time cost of $337,881 for illicit discharge monitoring equipment.In conjunction with the countywide water quality program, DuPage County Stormwater Management is also assisting local communities in initiatives ranging from spill cleanup to storm sewer televising to catch basin and storm sewer cleaning. When needed, communities are utilizing the County’s crew and equipment for both scheduled and emergency maintenance. These shared services are generating an estimated more than $300,000 in annual revenue for the department, while reducing the communities’ need for heavy equipment and full-time staff.DuPage County Stormwater Management’s shared services program is economically viable, replicable and proven for use in other counties.