Stormwater

Clean Water is Everybody’s Business
Whitehall Township regulates storm water management through a permit that is obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) www.depweb.state.pa.us through the National Pollution and Discharge Elimination System Phase II (NPDES)/Municipals Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). This is a federal requirement from the United States Environmental Protection Agency that is administered by the PA DEP.


Read DEP Guide to Maintaining Streams in Your Community

Read Homeowner's Guide to Stormwater

Read Homeowner's Guide to Stormwater 2017

Read Questions Regarding Earth Disturbance Activities

Read Simple Solutions for Your Backyard Stream

Read Water Cycle Glossary of Terms

Read The Water Cycle, Cloud Formation, and Rainbows Explained

View Stormwater Information Video


Whitehall Township's Stormwater Pollution Reduction Plan
Whitehall Township is required to submit a Pollutant Reduction Plan (PRP) for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater discharge permit from its Small Municipal Separated Storm Sewer System (MS4). Whitehall Township is required to reduce its sediment discharges into local waters by 10% in the next 5 years beginning in 2018. To read click HERE.


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Check Out Stormwater Snouts


What is Storm Water and Why Is It So Important?
Storm water runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or a snow melt that flows over the ground, impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets, prevents it from naturally soaking into the ground.

Run-off from streets, lawns, construction, industrial sites and farms can pick up debris, chemicals, dirt, oil and other pollutants and anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the waterbodies that can adversely affect our drinking water and the environment.

To protect surface water and ground water quality, urban development and household activities must be guided by plans that limit runoff and reduce pollutant loading. To this end, communities can address urban water quality problems on both a local level and watershed level and garner institutional support to help address urban runoff problems.

Many Best Management Practices (BMP’s) like infiltration or detention basins are already in place to keep our waters clean from pollutants.

What are the Urban Area Runoff Problems?
Increased Runoff. The porous and varied terrain off natural landscapes like forests, wetlands, and grasslands trap rainwater and snowmelt and allow it to slowly filter into the ground. In contrast to developed nonporous urban landscapes like roads, bridges, parking lots, and buildings which don’t let runoff slowly seep into the ground. This water remains above the surface, accumulates, and then runs off in large amounts. A one acre of paved surface generates 27,000 gallons of runoff with an inch of rain.

Increased Pollutant Loads. Urbanization also increases the variety and amount of pollutants transported to receiving waters. Sediment from development and new construction such as oil, grease; toxic chemicals from automobiles; nutrients and pesticides from turf management and gardening; viruses and bacteria from failing septic systems; road salts; and heavy metals are all examples of pollutants generated in urban areas.

Things You Can Do to Prevent Storm Water Runoff Pollution

• Never dump anything down storm drains or in streams or use the street as a wash off area.
• Sweep up driveways, sidewalks and gutters.
• Fix leaks on your car.
• Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces; consider starting a rain garden. Look at obtaining a rain barrel to reuse the downspout water for gardening.
• Pick up after your pet.
• Take your car to the car wash instead of washing it in the driveway.
• Never use the street for storage of construction materials for landscaping or building.
• Reduce your use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.
• Get involved and join Whitehall’s Environmental Advisory Council.

Report Storm water Pollution by calling the Township at 610-437-5524, extension 1139. If you witness suspicious dumping or leakage into storm drains, call 911 and take photos, if possible.

More information is available at Naturalization of Stormwater Basins

and Pennsylvania Stormwater website

What is NPDES?
The NPDES permit program addresses water pollution by regulating nonpoint/point source discharges that contribute pollutants to the waters of the United States and the Commonwealth.

Created in 1972 the Clean Water Act followed by the NPDES permit program was authorized to state governments by EPA to perform permitting, administrative, and enforcement aspects of the program.

Whitehall Township’s participation in the NPDES program is required and is dedicated to making the streams and rivers clean as possible for future generations by enacting the parameters set forth in the permit.

The following information is available if you wish to better understand the efforts of the Clean Water Act. It also includes tips and if you would like to help contribute to cleaner water.

Impacts associated with water pollution and poor runoff management:

• Increased flooding and damage to property and infrastructure (bridges, roads, culverts, etc.)
• Higher cost for treating drinking water
• Lost opportunities for tourism, recreation and family activities
• Lower property values

For more information on understanding storm water, visit www.epa.gov and look for articles about storm water in the Township newsletter.

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