Stormwater Management

Stormwater management is the effort to reduce runoff of rainwater or melted snow into streets, lawns, and other sites and improve water quality, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In urban and developed areas, impervious surfaces such as pavement, roofs, and other surfaces prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems, and drainage ditches and can cause flooding, erosion, turbidity (or muddiness), storm and sanitary sewer system overflow, and infrastructure damage.

The main purpose of stormwater management is to detain stormwater to remove/reduce pollutants and sediment that reach our streams and waterways and, where possible, reduce flooding and infrastructure damage.

New Britain Township is responsible for the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS4, which includes all inlets, storm sewer pipes, and other infrastructure throughout the Township that conveys stormwater to our creeks and streams. As the owner of an MS4, the Township is required to maintain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, which is held and monitored by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The NPDES Permit focuses on six areas: Public Education, Public Involvement, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Construction, Post-Construction, & Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping.

Illicit Discharge means any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer that is not composed entirely of stormwater, except authorized non-stormwater discharges per New Britain Township’s Stormwater Ordinance #2022-09-03 Section §26-171.3. Examples of illicit discharges include dumping of motor vehicle fluids, household hazardous wastes, grass clippings, leaf litter, animal wastes, or unauthorized discharges of sewage, industrial waste, restaurant wastes, or any other non-stormwater waste into a municipal separate storm sewer system. Illicit discharges can be accidental or intentional. Please contact the Township for any questions or concerns. 215-822-1391.

To view the Township’s MS4 plan click/tap on the following links: MS4 Executive Summary | MS4 Plan

Educating yourself on where rainwater and snowmelt flow on your property when it doesn’t get absorbed into the ground is a huge first step. Implementing best management practices (BMP) to reduce runoff and to make sure that it is clean when it leaves your property is the next step.

Best Management Practices (BMP) include Rain Gardens, seepage pits, rain barrels, and more.

For more examples of BMPs from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), click/tap HERE.
For more examples of BMPs from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), click/tap HERE.