Stormwater Management

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is the water that runs off the land after precipitation, either rain or snowmelt.  Rain or snow can drain down into the soil (called infiltration), evaporate back into the atmosphere, be used by plants, or flow into streams or water bodies.  The water that runs off the land to streams or lakes is referred to as stormwater runoff.

Royersford Borough Stormwater Management

What is the MS4 Stormwater Program?

The purpose of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program is to maintain and enhance water quality in the United States. The program is designed to manage stormwater runoff in urban areas, ensuring that it is collected and discharged without causing pollution to local water bodies.

As part of the MS4 Program, Royersford Borough, like other municipalities, hold a permit to discharge stormwater into the local waterways.

As part of this permit, Royersford Borough is responsible for overseeing a stormwater management program that reduces the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent possible, and that satisfies the water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act. In Pennsylvania, the MS4 program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The MS4 stormwater management program has six elements known as “minimum control measures” (MCM). It is intended that implementation of these six MCMs will result in an immediate and long-term reduction of pollutants that are discharged into waterways. The six minimum control measures include: 

• Public Education and Outreach
• Public Involvement and Participation
• Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
• Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
• Post Construction Stormwater Management
• Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

There are a number of MS4 materials that are found on the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection website at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep and on EPA website at http://www.epa.gov to increase your knowledge of storm water issues.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL:
Be Stormwater Smart
Stormwater Smart Lawn Care
After the Storm

Want to help prevent storm water pollution? Here are a few tips:

1. Properly dispose of hazardous substances, never pour them down any part of the storm sewer system.
2. Report discharges from storm water outfalls during dry weather; a sign that there could be a problem.
3. Look for signs of pollutants leaving construction sites in storm water. Report poorly managed construction sites.
4. Store materials that could pollute storm water indoors.
5. For outdoor storage, use containers that do not rust.
6. Pick up after pets and properly dispose of their waste.
7. Install rain barrels or rain gardens to capture storm water.
8. Use pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides properly and efficiently to prevent excess runoff.

What Is An Illicit Discharge?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines an illicit discharge as, “any discharge into a storm drain system that is not composed entirely of storm water.” This means that anything other than simply the water that falls from the sky is an illicit discharge. There are many hazardous household products, yard care products, fertilizers, dog waste, car soaps and automotive fluids that turn what should only be storm water into an illicit discharge that pollutes and degrades local water quality.

To help keep our local water bodies clear and clean you can do your part by helping Royersford Borough identify illicit discharge or pollution entering the storm water system. Some everyday items that that can impact the municipal storm water system include motor vehicle fluids, household hazardous waste, grass clippings and leaf litter, and animal waste.

Please call 610-948-3737 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 610-948-3305 outside of the Borough’s office hours if you feel you have seen an illicit discharge.