Stormwater Management
What is Stormwater?
Stormwater is the excess water from rain or snowmelt that the ground cannot soak up. Stormwater flows into a storm drain and through the storm sewer system. The system eventually discharges the water into a local stream or lake.
What is Stormwater Management?
Stormwater management helps to reduce flooding, protects infrastructure and keeps our streams and lakes clean.
How to prevent stormwater pollution
- Use fertilizers sparingly and sweep up driveways and sidewalks
- Never dump anything down storm drains or in streams
- Vegetate bare spots in the yard
- Compost your yard waste
- Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces; consider a rain garden
- Take your car to the car wash instead of washing it in the driveway
- Check your car for various leaks; recycle motor oil
- Have your septic tank pumped regularly
- Clean up after your pet
It is ILLEGAL to dump grass clippings, pool water, used motor oil, or anything else down storm drains. They are intended for stormwater only and they drain into streams.
What is an Impervious Surface?
An impervious surface is a parking lot, building or road that covers the ground surface to prevent water from soaking in. The more impervious surface you have, the more stormwater runoff you have.
Stormwater Regulations
The Clean Water Act of 1972 (CWA) establishes a framework for regulating pollutants discharged into waterways and is administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) oversees some of the federal regulations and enforces the PA Clean Streams Law of 1937.
What is an MS4 Program?
MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. The MS4 system may include such structures as storm pipes, catch basins, trench drains, roadside swales and cross drains, conveyance channels, detention ponds, infiltration basins, rain gardens or other structures designated for the collection, storage and conveyance of stormwater runoff. The MS4 program is a federal program that regulates stormwater in urbanized areas.
The West Cocalico Stormwater Management System is made up of six key components:
– Public Education and Outreach
– Public Involvement and Participation
– Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
– Construction Site Runoff Control
– Post-Construction Stormwater Management
– Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping
What is an Illicit Discharge?
An illicit discharge is any discharge of pollutants or non-stormwater materials allowed to enter the storm sewer systems from overland flows or direct dumping of materials into a catch basin. Examples of Illicit Discharge: Sand and Dirt from construction sites washing into drains, Dumping Toxic Chemicals into drain, Chemical and Fuel Spills, overuse of Fertilizers and Pesticides, and Trash not picked up allowed to go into drains. To report an Illicit Discharge please contact the township office at: (717) 336-8720 or email wcocalico@gmail.com.
Stormwater Ordinance
Subdivision Land Development and Stormwater Management
Subdivision, Land Development & Stormwater Mgt Ordinance Fee Schedule
Stormwater Permits & Agreements
Application for Consideration for a Subdivision and/or Land Development Plan
Improvement Guarantee Agreement
BMP & O&M Agreement and Declaration of Easement
Stormwater Education
Chesapeake Bay How To’s and Tips – https://www.chesapeakebay.net/action/protect-the-bay
Rain Gardens – https://extension.psu.edu/rain-gardens-the-plants
Lawn Reduction – https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/GoodNatured/pages/Article.aspx?post=138
Stormwater Webinar – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il-wiZcdE54
Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov