Stormwater

In 1990 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began Phase I of the Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program for reducing stormwater pollutant discharges into surface waters. 

Phase I

NPDES Phase I affected larger municipalities, industrial sites and land development larger than 5 acres. Phase I specifically affected the cities of Allentown, Erie, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. In 1999 Phase II of the NPDES program was enacted. 

These new federal and state stormwater management regulations required all Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) which includes Lower Paxton Township and over 900 other Pennsylvania townships to apply for an NPDES permit in order to continue to discharge stormwater from the Township stormwater system to streams and tributaries of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Notice of Intent Permit Application

Lower Paxton Township submitted a Notice of Intent NPDES Permit Application to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and received an approved general permit to allow the Township to continue to discharge stormwater to streams. It is hoped that the outcome of the program will be reduced pollution, enhanced fishing and recreation, improved drinking water quality and reduced flood damage.

Components

The permit requires that the Township develop and implement a stormwater management program that includes six components including:

  • Construction site runoff management
  • Good housekeeping and pollution prevention
  • Illicit discharge detection and elimination
  • Post-construction stormwater management
  • Public education
  • Public involvement
  1. What is storm water? Is it the puddle our children splash in or maybe the little stream along the road after a downpour that runs into storm drains?
  2. What is a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)?
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