The term ‘rainwater fee’ often appears in public discussions, especially during periods of heavy rainfall. The expression can misleadingly suggest an extra tax, but the reality is different: it is a regulated component of the public water and sewage service, defined by Law 241/2006.

In Bucharest, billing for the sewage service related to rainwater is carried out in accordance with HCGMB 820/2018, which establishes the regulations for the water supply and sewage service.

What the rainwater fee represents and since when it applies:

Water and sewage operators are required to collect and manage stormwater — water from rain or snow that reaches the public network from impermeable surfaces such as streets, roofs, parking lots, and pavements.

Any volume of water received by the system triggers technical processes: collection, transport, pumping, filtration, and discharge. These operations generate costs, and the tariff covers exactly these activities.

An obligation more than three decades old

The payment for handling stormwater is not a tax, but a tariff regulated for over 30 years by local administrations.

In Bucharest, this billing system existed before 2000. The perception that stormwater billing appeared only after the service was concessioned is contradicted by regulations adopted since the 1990s.

Regulations that set the rules:

– HCGMB 109/1997 – Regulations on connecting to and using the sewage system

Stipulates the obligation to pay for all connected users. Article 16 introduces the calculation formula.

“The payment is determined by multiplying the volume of discharged water by the current tariff. The amount of domestic wastewater equals the volume consumed, while the amount of stormwater is calculated based on the surface area owned and the multiannual average precipitation.” 

– HCGMB 23/1993 – Rules for operating the water and sewage system

 Defines the rainwater volume coefficients:
• 0.5 m³/sq. m/year for businesses
• 0.3 m³/sq. m/year for public areas
• 0.2 m³/sq. m/year for households and homeowner associations

The volume of stormwater is calculated based on declared surface area and multiannual precipitation averages.

To simplify billing, the operator distributes the annual volume proportionally on each invoice.

Bucharest residents pay one of the lowest sewage tariffs in the country, according to ANRSC.

A standard European practice

Charging for stormwater handling is standard in major European cities. Urban networks require continuous maintenance, permanent pumping capacity, and readiness for extreme weather events.

In conclusion, stormwater is not a hidden tax, but a transparent, regulated component of the public water and sewage service, essential for the functioning of urban infrastructure year-round.