Residential Retrofit Program

What is the BLUE® CVT program?

Are you interested in making changes to how rainwater flows on your property? Perhaps you are interested in learning more about how stormwater affects the health of our community as a whole, and the part your property plays in our watershed. The Town of Colchester has collaborated with the BLUE Stormwater Program to create BLUE® CVT, a program to help residents identify projects that are appropriate for reducing the impact of stormwater runoff on their property and provide $$ to those completing projects.

NEW REBATES FOR YEAR 3: Higher rebates will be offered for properties that are hydrologically connected, meaning those sites where stormwater runoff is directed to a surface water like a stream, lake, or pond. These properties will receive $1 for every square foot of impervious surface mitigated, up to $1,500! Non-HC properties are still eligible for rebates of up to $250. And to keep it fun, the property who mitigates the most amount of stormwater runoff in 2021 will receive a bonus $100! Contact BLUE today at the email address below to see what opportunities are available for your site.

How it Works

A site visit is performed on a designated date and time, coordinated with the homeowner.
Your property will be evaluated by BLUE® CVT staff.
Within a week, a report will be provided with site-specific recommendations for pollution mitigation, and how to become BLUE® certified.
You decide which recommended stormwater mitigation actions you would like to take.
Submit your plan to BLUE® CVT staff for approval prior to installation.
Upon approval, the installation of your Green Stormwater Infrastructure will begin.
The installation will be checked by BLUE® CVT staff.
After a final site visit, your rebate can be processed, and you can apply for your BLUE® certificate! Please see the table below for more information about what types of projects are assigned to each of the two rebate tiers available through the BLUE® CVT program.

An Example of a Berm
Bayside Park at Sunset, 2018
Example of a Driveway Trench to Dry Well
Example of Gutter Downspout Re-direct
Three Examples of Rain Barrels
Rossetti Beach, Summer 2017
Example of a Dry Well System

Who should apply for this program?

Any residential property under 4 units is eligible to apply for this program. A BLUE® CVT employee trained in stormwater mitigation strategies will arrange an appointment to survey your property and discuss any water quality concerns you may have. Below, you will find the application form, contact information for BLUE® and Colchester Stormwater Utility staff, as well as a quick reference for common potential stormwater projects and their respective rebates.

Why did Colchester establish BLUE® CVT?

The Stormwater Utility was adopted by the Town on July 1, 2017 to more equitably fund our community’s water quality needs. The utility is primarily funded through fees paid annually by property owners, based on the amount of impervious surface on their properties. Commercial properties are able to apply for credits to reduce their bill by proving they have taken steps to reduce the impact of stormwater runoff from their property. While these credits are not available for residential properties, the BLUE® CVT program will provide one-time rebates in exchange for similar work. Staff plan to evaluate the pilot project at the end of the year to determine whether to continue offering the incentive program.

What should I expect from my evaluation?

Once you have submitted the interest form and your evaluation has been scheduled, a BLUE® CVT employee will come to your property and discuss what water quality and/or stormwater management concerns you are most interested in before evaluating the site. The initial site visit will take approximately 1 hour, and will consider things like soil composition, existing infrastructure, topography, and where stormwater is currently flowing. A final report with recommendations will be provided to participants.

What happens next?

Once the project is agreed upon and any needed permits secured, installation may begin. To qualify for a rebate, construction must be finished by the end of October 2021. Your evaluator will check in to make sure it is being installed according to the approved plans, and a BLUE® CVT employee will inspect the project when the contractor has finished their work. Once the work and inspection are completed, your rebate will be processed by BLUE® CVT. If you are the winner of the bonus $100, you will be contacted at the end of the season. Thanks for your interest in BLUE® CVT!