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Stormwater management concerns the control of water (from rain, melting ice
or snow) that runs off the surface of the land. The amount and rate of
runoff is increased considerably as land is developed; construction of
impervious surface (e.g. parking lots) hinders the infiltration of rainfall
into the soil. Therefore stormwater management is imperative to offset the
possible impacts of development – flooding and erosion problems,
concentration of flow on neighboring properties, damages to infrastructure,
and non-point source pollution (i.e. pollution that comes from the general
drainage of the land such as runoff from parking lots and farmland).
Federal regulations enacted in December 1999 require Langhorne Manor Borough
to improve on their existing stormwater management program over the next
five years, beginning in March 2003.
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II
stormwater program requires that Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems
(MS4s) address the six required elements contained in the federal
regulations to reduce water pollution:
Stormwater runoff occurs when water from rain or snow and ice melting flows
over the ground. Stormwater becomes a problem when it picks up debris,
chemicals, dirt and other pollutants as it flows or when it causes flooding
and erosion of streambanks. Stormwater travels through a system of pipes and
roadside ditches that make up storm sewer systems. It eventually flows
directly to a lake, river, stream, wetland or coastal water. All of the
pollutants stormwater carries along the way empty into our waters, too,
because stormwater does not get treated!
Here
are some of the most important ways for Borough residents to prevent
stormwater pollution:
-
Properly dispose of
hazardous substances, such as used motor oil, cleaning supplies and paint
- never pour them down any part of the storm sewer system, and report
anyone who does.
-
Use pesticides,
fertilizers and herbicides properly and efficiently to prevent excess
runoff of these items.
-
Look for signs of soil
and other pollutants, such as debris and chemicals, leaving construction
sites in stormwater runoff or tracked into roads by construction vehicles.
Report poorly managed construction sites that could impact stormwater
runoff to the Borough.
-
Install innovative
stormwater practices on residential properties, such as rain barrels or
rain gardens, that capture stormwater and keep it on-site instead of
letting it drain away into the storm sewer system.
-
Report any discharge from
stormwater outfalls during times of dry weather - a sign there could be a
problem with the storm sewer system.
-
Pick up after pets and
dispose of their waste properly. No matter where pets make a mess - in a
backyard or on open space - stormwater runoff can carry pet waste from the
land to the storm sewer system to a stream.
-
Store materials that
could pollute water indoors and use containers for outdoor storage that do
not rust or leak to eliminate exposure of materials to stormwater.
Information on this program is available from the
Pennsylvania DEP.
Water Quality Hotlines
Residents can
help report violations or problems they notice in their neighborhood and
local streams before they cause more damage and pollution. Residents
sometimes may be the first to recognize "illicit" discharges dumping into
storm sewers or coming out of from storm sewer outfalls. You can help by
promptly reporting the following events to the authorities listed below.
Here are some
of the conditions that you should report and who to contact:
|
Violation |
Who to Contact |
|
Sediment
leaving a construction site in stormwater |
Bucks County
Conservation District |
|
Observed
pollution event or pollutants in stream |
Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection |
|
Clogged
or leaking sewer lines; Broken water mains |
Bucks
County Water and Sewer Authority |
|
Spills |
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection spills hotline |
|
Illegal
dumping activity into water courses |
Langhorne Manor Borough; Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection |
|
Dry
weather flows from outfall pipes into streams (72 hours after a rain
storm) |
Langhorne Manor Borough |
|
Fish
Kills |
Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection |
Photos and exact
locations are very helpful!
|
DEP Water Quality
Hotlines |
484-250-5900
1-800-541-2050 (toll free) |
Anytime, including
evenings and weekends |
|
Off site discharge of
sediment, erosion, and other improper controls during construction |
Bucks County Conservation District
215-345-7577 |
Email photo and send
full address and directions |
|
Clogged or leaking
sanitary sewer lines; sewage smell in creek |
Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority
215-343-2538 |
After hours, call 911 |
|
Fish kills, illegal
fishing |
PA Fish Commission:
717-626-0228 |
Also call DEP Water
Quality Hotline |
|
Dry weather outfall
flows (discharges to stream from outfall pipes after 72 hours of no
rain) |
Langhorne Manor Borough
215-752-5835 |
Weekdays during working
hours |
|
Broken water mains |
Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority
215-343-2538 |
24 hour |
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