Stormwater Information

Stormwater Pollution / Polluted Runoff

As stormwater streams over streets, driveways, lawns, and other surfaces, the flow picks up chemicals, dirt, debris, and other pollutants. Polluted stormwater can then flow into a storm sewer and be discharged untreated into a waterbody; or it can flow directly into a stream, lake, river, wetland, or coastal water. This can have many adverse effects on plants and animals, and is becoming the nation's biggest threat to clean water.

Unlike polluted discharges from industry or sewage treatment facilities (forms of point source pollution), polluted runoff (a form of nonpoint source pollution) is generated by all of us. Stormwater pollution starts with everyday activities, like washing our car, fertilizing our lawn, walking our dog, and disposing of motor oil. While most of our individual actions have only a small impact on water quality, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cautions that "the cumulative impact of how we choose to interact with our land and water is huge." To protect and restore the quality of our streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans, we all need to develop more water-friendly habits.

Below are some simple actions that we can take to help improve water quality:

• Recycle motor oil at any auto parts store.
• Wash your car on a pervious surface (like gravel). Or better yet, bring it to a car wash that recycles and treats water.
• Seed and mulch bare ground within 14 days after removing vegetative cover.
• Save plastic grocery bags and use them to scoop the poop from your pooch. Flushing pet waste is advised over leaving it on the ground.
• Have your septic system inspected every 3 years and pumped as necessary.
• Fertilize only in the fall. Use slow-release or organic fertilizers to help grass grow new roots and store nutrients for next year’s growth.
• If you have a pond, make its shore a no-mow zone.

Brochures and other resources containing additional information and suggestions for reducing stormwater pollution are available at:

• Chester County Water Resources Authority
• PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): MS4 Resources
• US EPA: Stormwater Outreach Materials and Reference Documents

For more information:

If you have questions or require additional information regarding stormwater, please contact the DEP's Southeast Regional Office.

Stormwater Programs

The EPA's Office of Wastewater Management leads and manages a Stormwater Program as part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPES). The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is an NPDES permitting authority and is authorized to implement the stormwater NPDES permitting program for construction activities, industrial activities, and municipal separate storm sewer systems.

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)

According to the EPA's Stormwater Phase II Final Rule , the term MS4 includes: roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains; designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater; owned or operated by a public body; that are not part of a publicly owned treatment works.

Franklin Township is covered by the MS4 program and has an MS4 permit. This requires the Township to implement and enforce a storm water management program which encompasses six minimum control measures, or best management practices (BMPs):

• Public education and outreach
• Public participation/involvement
• Illicit discharge detection and elimination
• Construction site runoff control
• Post-construction runoff control
• Pollution prevention/good housekeeping

For a more detailed overview, see What is the MS4 Stormwater Program? .