When It Rains, It Drains When It Rains, It Drains

An Overview of An Overview of

Upper Merion Upper Merion Township’s NewTownship’s New

Storm Water Storm Water Management Management

ProgramProgram

Clean WaterClean Water

Let’s Talk About. . .Let’s Talk About. . .

What storm water is and why it What storm water is and why it can be a problem in our can be a problem in our township.township.

What our township is doing to What our township is doing to manage storm water and how manage storm water and how these activities will benefit us.these activities will benefit us.

What is Storm What is Storm Water?Water?

Rain eventsRain events

Snow melt Snow melt

Other surface runoff and Other surface runoff and drainagedrainage

Where Does Storm Water Where Does Storm Water Go In Our Township?Go In Our Township?

Travels over land Travels over land Carried through municipal separate Carried through municipal separate

storm sewer system (MS4)storm sewer system (MS4) Discharges into various creeks and Discharges into various creeks and

streams (Crow, Trout Run, Frog Run, streams (Crow, Trout Run, Frog Run, Matsunk, Gulph Mills Creeks) within Matsunk, Gulph Mills Creeks) within the Township. the Township.

Ultimately these creeks and streams Ultimately these creeks and streams discharge into the Schuylkill River.discharge into the Schuylkill River.

A “Point” of Confusion:A “Point” of Confusion:Point Source vs. Nonpoint Point Source vs. Nonpoint

SourceSource

POINT source POINT source – Travels through a conveyance Travels through a conveyance

systemsystem– Regulated under permit programRegulated under permit program

NONPOINT source NONPOINT source – Runoff that is not a point source Runoff that is not a point source – Addressed through voluntary Addressed through voluntary

programsprograms

Why is Storm Water a Why is Storm Water a Problem?Problem?

Problem: Decrease in Problem: Decrease in qualityquality

Problem: Increase in Problem: Increase in quantityquantity

Cause: Developed and Cause: Developed and disturbed landdisturbed land

Why is Storm Water a Why is Storm Water a Problem?Problem?

Problem: Non-storm water Problem: Non-storm water discharges enter systemsdischarges enter systems

Cause: Illicit discharges Cause: Illicit discharges

Cause: Illicit connectionsCause: Illicit connections

Storm Water PollutantsStorm Water Pollutants

SedimentSediment

NutrientsNutrients

BacteriaBacteria

Oxygen DemandOxygen Demand

Oil and GreaseOil and Grease

Trace MetalsTrace Metals

Toxic Toxic ChemicalsChemicals

ChloridesChlorides

Thermal Thermal ImpactsImpacts

PA Water Quality and PA Water Quality and Storm Water ImpactsStorm Water Impacts

Total of 83,161 stream miles in PATotal of 83,161 stream miles in PA– 54% of total assessed54% of total assessed

18.1% of assessed waters degraded18.1% of assessed waters degraded

Urban runoff #3 source of Urban runoff #3 source of impairmentimpairment– 1187 miles of rivers and streams1187 miles of rivers and streams– 14.5% of all impaired river and stream 14.5% of all impaired river and stream

milesmilesFrom 2001 305(b) Report Update

Now We Know About Now We Know About Storm Water and Its Storm Water and Its Impacts on Upper Impacts on Upper Merion Township. . . Merion Township. . .

But What Are But What Are We Doing About We Doing About

It?It?

Storm Water Permit Storm Water Permit Program for Small Program for Small

CommunitiesCommunities New federal regulation requires a New federal regulation requires a

permit for our township. permit for our township. The township has submitted and The township has submitted and

obtain an (MS4) permit from PA obtain an (MS4) permit from PA DEP.DEP.

PA DEP created state permitting PA DEP created state permitting program to meet federal program to meet federal regulations.regulations.

What Does Our Permit What Does Our Permit Require?Require?

Implement a storm water Implement a storm water management program.management program.

Track progress toward goals.Track progress toward goals.

Report on our progress.Report on our progress.

Our Storm Water Program Our Storm Water Program

Public Public EducationEducation

Construction Construction Site Runoff Site Runoff ManagementManagement

Illicit Discharge Illicit Discharge Detection and Detection and EliminationElimination

Public Public InvolvementInvolvement

Post-Post-Construction Construction Storm Water Storm Water ManagementManagement

Good Good Housekeeping Housekeeping and Pollution and Pollution PreventionPrevention

Public Education and Public Education and OutreachOutreach

Distribute educational Distribute educational materials developed by PA materials developed by PA DEP. DEP.

Develop outreach plan for Develop outreach plan for the township.the township.

Public Public Involvement/ParticipationInvolvement/Participation

Provide public noticeProvide public notice

Create an public involvement planCreate an public involvement plan

Hold a public meeting on the programHold a public meeting on the program

Start a volunteer programStart a volunteer program– Water Quality MonitoringWater Quality Monitoring– Storm Drain StencilingStorm Drain Stenciling– Stream Clean-UpsStream Clean-Ups

Illicit Discharge Detection Illicit Discharge Detection and Eliminationand Elimination

Review DEP’s model ordinance and Review DEP’s model ordinance and adopt a Township ordinance.adopt a Township ordinance.

Develop storm sewer system map Develop storm sewer system map on GIS.on GIS.

Implement program to detect non-Implement program to detect non-storm water in system.storm water in system.

Educate community on problems Educate community on problems related to dumping in storm sewersrelated to dumping in storm sewers

Construction Site Storm Construction Site Storm Water Runoff ControlWater Runoff Control

Update current Township Ordinance Update current Township Ordinance No. 98-678 to reflect current DEP and No. 98-678 to reflect current DEP and MCCD regulations.MCCD regulations.

Continue to coordinate with County Continue to coordinate with County Conservation DistrictConservation District– Erosion and Sediment Control Program Erosion and Sediment Control Program – NPDES Construction Storm Water NPDES Construction Storm Water

PermittingPermitting

Educate construction industryEducate construction industry

Post-Construction Storm Post-Construction Storm Water ManagementWater Management

Review PA DEP’s model Review PA DEP’s model storm water management storm water management ordinance and create a ordinance and create a Township ordinance.Township ordinance.

Ensure proper operation and Ensure proper operation and maintenance of post-maintenance of post-construction controlsconstruction controls

Pollution Prevention/Pollution Prevention/Good HousekeepingGood Housekeeping

Implement a program that Implement a program that focuses on pollution focuses on pollution prevention.prevention.

Train Township employees on Train Township employees on good housekeeping practices.good housekeeping practices.

Educate Township residents Educate Township residents on pollution prevention.on pollution prevention.

How Will Our How Will Our Storm Water Storm Water

Program Benefit Program Benefit Upper Merion Upper Merion

Township?Township?

Expected Benefits of Expected Benefits of Upper Merion Township’s Upper Merion Township’s

Storm Water ProgramStorm Water Program

Enhanced opportunities for Enhanced opportunities for recreationrecreation

Reduced flood damageReduced flood damage Drinking water benefitsDrinking water benefits Navigational benefitsNavigational benefits Reduced illnessReduced illness Enhanced aesthetic valueEnhanced aesthetic value

How Can You Get How Can You Get Involved?Involved?

Pass on information about the Pass on information about the storm water program to other storm water program to other township residents.township residents.

Report any storm water issues to Report any storm water issues to Mr. Edward O’Brien, Acting Mr. Edward O’Brien, Acting Director of Public Works at 610-Director of Public Works at 610-265-2606.265-2606.

For More Information. . .For More Information. . .

See Upper Merion Township Web site at See Upper Merion Township Web site at www.umtownship.orgwww.umtownship.org..

Contact Mr. Edward O’Brien, Acting Contact Mr. Edward O’Brien, Acting Director of Public Works or Mr. Michael E. Director of Public Works or Mr. Michael E. Capaldi, Engineering Coordinator at 610-Capaldi, Engineering Coordinator at 610-265-2606.265-2606.

See DEP Office of Water Management See DEP Office of Water Management Website at Website at http://http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/waterwww.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/watermgt.htmmgt/watermgt.htm..