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

Ordinance 146 – SALDO

Ordinance 147 – Stormwater

Subdivision, Land Development & Stormwater Mgt Ordinance Fee Schedule

 

Stormwater Permits & Agreements

Application for Consideration for a Subdivision and/or Land Development Plan

Minor Stormwater Application

Improvement Guarantee Agreement

BMP & O&M Agreement and Declaration of Easement

Stormwater Education

Chesapeake Bay How To’s and Tipshttps://www.chesapeakebay.net/action/protect-the-bay

Rain Gardenshttps://extension.psu.edu/rain-gardens-the-plants

Lawn Reductionhttps://www.dcnr.pa.gov/GoodNatured/pages/Article.aspx?post=138

Stormwater Webinarhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il-wiZcdE54

 

 

 

Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov