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OTTUMWA, IOWA --

A Clean Water Act passed 34 years ago may start taking money out of your pockets come next year.

Although the act was in place, however the DNR did not begin enforcing it until 1999.

It was then that Ottumwa started planning for their sewer separation project.

However, during these years, the city has not accumulated a funding mechanism for it.

In the past, storm-related items have been taken out of street projects or sewer fees.

The public works director proposed a separate utility fee to the council last night.

The fee would go directly into a fund to support the new storm water utility line.

The proposed utility fee calls for each household to pay a 3 dollar monthly fee.

However, commercial properties will be billed differently.

"All commercial properties we measured from the most recent aerial, we’ve come up with the square footage and then we divide what is called an ERU into that. Which, in our case, happens to be 2,920 square feet,” said Larry Seals, Public Works Director.

This equation results in commercial properties being charged much higher rates than residential properties.

For instance, John Deere will pay approximately $48,000 a year.

Although some residents have already voiced their opinion and have asked the city to not pass another fee onto them, the city council seemed to agree with seals that there is no other way to pay for the DNR required project.

KTVO will keep you updated as this unfolds.