Stormwater Management

What is StormWater Management?

Stormwater is rainwater and melted snow that runs off streets, lawns, farms, and construction and industrial sites. Under natural conditions, stormwater is absorbed into the ground, where it is filtered and ultimately replenishes aquifers or slowly flows through forests and meadows into streams and rivers.

In developed areas, however, impervious surfaces such as pavement and building roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, the water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems, and drainage ditches. The resulting rush of stormwater discharge can cause infrastructure damage, downstream flooding, and stream bank erosion. In addition, the bacteria and other pollutants not filtered from stormwater can contaminate streams, rivers, and coastal waters.

Stormwater management addresses these concerns through a variety of techniques, including strategic site design, measures to control the sources of runoff, and thoughtful landscape planning.

To read the Stormwater Ordinance for Penn Township - Click Here

Ordinance No. 2010-02

2010 Tree Tenders Brochure

The MS4 Program

Understanding the MS4

The following are the various mandated requirements of the MS4:

1. Public Education and Outreach

Distributing educational materials and performing outreach to inform citizens about the impacts polluted storm water runoff discharges can have on water quality.

2. Public Participation/Involvement

Providing opportunities for citizens to participate in program development and implementation, including effectively publicizing public hearings and/or encouraging citizen representatives on a storm water management panel.

3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

Developing and implementing a plan to detect and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm sewer system (includes developing a system map and informing the community about hazards associated with illegal discharges and improper disposal of waste).

4. Construction Site Runoff Control

Developing, implementing, and enforcing an erosion and sediment control program for construction activities that disturb 1 or more acres of land (controls could include silt fences and temporary storm water detention ponds).

5. Post-Construction Runoff Control

Developing, implementing, and enforcing a program to address discharges of post-construction storm water runoff from new development and redevelopment areas. Applicable controls could include preventative actions such as protecting sensitive areas (e.g., wetlands) or the use of structural BMPs such as grassed swales or porous pavement.

6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

Developing and implementing a program with the goal of preventing or reducing pollutant runoff from municipal operations. The program must include municipal staff training on pollution prevention measures and techniques (e.g., regular street sweeping, reduction in the use of pesticides or street salt, or frequent catch-basin cleaning). or its chosen BMPs and measurable goals for each minimum control measure. To help permittees identify the most appropriate BMPs for their programs, EPA will issue a“menu,” of BMPs to serve as guidelines.. NPDES permitting authorities can modify the EPA menu or develop their own list.

Ten Things You Can Do to Prevent Stormwater Runoff Pollution

• Use fertilizers sparingly and sweep up driveways, sidewalks, and gutters
• Never dump anything down storm drains or in streams
• Vegetate bare spots in your yard
• Compost your yard waste
• Use least toxic pesticides, follow labels, and learn how to prevent pest problems
• Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces; consider a rain garden to capture runoff
• Take your car to the car wash instead of washing it in the driveway
• Check your car for leaks and recycle your motor oil
• Pick up after your pet
• Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly

Information and How YOU Can Help

Chester County Water Resources Authority

PA Department of Environmental Protection

Villanova University Stormwater Management Resources

Where does stormwater go?

For Homeowners and Homeowner Associations -- Maintaining your basins

What you can do to help

Stormwater Management for Auto Recycler Owner and Operators

Stormwater Management for Commercial Businesses

Stormwater Management Best Pracices for Restaurants

Landscaping and Lawn Care

Pet Waste Management

"Make Your Home the Solution to Water Pollution"

Volunteer Initiatives/Student Community Service Hour Opportunities

1.  Participate in a stream or creek cleanup with in the Township.

2.  Plant trees along a stream or creek.

3.  Stencil storm drains with warnings about dumping.

4.  Organize a neighborhood pollution watch

5.  Join our township stream watch program. .

* If you are interested in any of these initiatives please contact Karen Busby by email at kbusby@penntownship.us.

Resources for Volunteer Projects

The Water Drop Patch Project for Girl Scouts

Give Water a Hand -- a Project Guide for Students

Volunteer Stream Monitoring

Creating your own rain garden

More clean water resources

EPA -- The Clean Water Act

Stroud Water Research in Avondale

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Creating your own rain garden

Water Quality Hotlines for Citizens

Citizens can help report violations or problems they notice in their local streams before they cause more damage and pollution. Residents sometimes may be the first to recognize “illicit” discharges dumping into storm sewers or coming out of from storm sewer outfalls.

New stormwater regulations from Pennsylvania’s DEP require that your municipality investigate more thoroughly potential illicit discharges (pollutants) into our streams. You can help by promptly reporting the following events to the authorities listed in the hotline box below. The township’s web site also contains a form for reporting these conditions (put link here). Here are some of the conditions that you should report:

• Sediment leaving a construction site in stormwater (your county conservation district)
• Observed pollution event or pollutants in stream (DEP)
• Clogged or leaking sewer lines (your sewer authority)
• Failing or overflowing sewer effluent from treatment plant (your sewer plant and DEP)
• Spills (DEP spills hotline)
• Illegal dumping activity into water courses (your municipality, DEP)
• Dry weather flows from outfall pipes into streams (72 hours after a rain storm)( your municipality)
• Fish Kills (Fish Commission, DEP)
• Water main breaks (Aqua PA or Chester Water Authority).
• Photos and exact locations are very helpful!

 

Helpful Phone Numbers
DEP Water Quality Hotline	484-250-5900
DEP 24 Hour Water Quality Hotline	1-866-255-5158 (toll free)	Anytime, including evenings and weekends
DEP Spills and other Emergencies Hotline	1-800-541-2050	24 hour
Off site discharge of sediment , erosion, & other improper controls during construction	County Conservation Districts Chester County: 610-696-5126 Delaware County: 810-892-9484	Email photo and send full address and directions
Clogged or leaking sanitary sewers lines; sewage smell in creek	610-869-9620	After hours, call 911
Fish Kills, Illegal Fishing PA Fish Commission	717-626-0228	Also call DEP Water Quality
Dry weather outfall flows (discharges to stream from outfall pipes after 72 hours of no rain)	610-869-9620	Weekdays during working hours
Broken water mains - Chester Water Authority	610-876-8181	24 hour
Broken water mains - Aqua Pennsylvania	610-525-1402	24 hour

Interested in learning more about our Penn Township environment? Try this:

MY ENVIRONMENT -- an EPA Resource for Penn Township residents