Stormwater Management Program

 

Stormwater Information Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Reducing Stormwater Pollution from Agricultural Operations

Short Video on Using Cover Crops (for Farmers)

For additional information or for answers to questions, contact Ken McCrea, MS4 Technician/Stormwater Enforcement Officer at 717-336-1720. If you see any illegal dumping into streams or storm sewers, report it by calling 911. If you see that a harmful substance has entered a stream and killed fish, report it directly to the PA Fish and Boat Commissions Pollution Hotline at 855-347-4445 or the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection at 1-800- 541-2050 (24/7).

 

Map Stormwater is the water from rain or melting snow that runs off of impervious (surface where water cannot enter the ground) surfaces into storm drains or directly into streams. From storm drains it runs through pipes, and other structures such as detention basins, but eventually most of it ends up flowing into streams. The water from all of the streams in East Cocalico Township eventually flows into the Chesapeake Bay.

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that states take actions to improve stormwater quality in developed areas. They created a program called MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems) to reduce pollution entering our streams and other waters. In Lancaster County, this program’s primary focus is to protect the health of Chesapeake Bay ecosystems.

Annual Inspections and ReportingInspection Areas

In Pennsylvania, the MS4 program is administrated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP). The MS4 program has many components, among which is the requirement to periodically inspect stormwater facilities in our Township. Because of the large number of stormwater facilities in the Township we have divided the Township into four inspection areas. Area 1 will be inspected in 2019, with the other areas to be inspected over the three following years.

Owners of property with stormwater facilities will be required to conduct a simple inspection and submit a one-page report annually.  Before they need to submit their first report, we will meet with the owners on the site to explain the inspection and reporting process. The inspection forms (with instructions) are located here: Inspection Forms

Stormwater Facilities Maintenance

Some of the stormwater facilities are owned and maintained by the Township, such as storm drains and pipes located under Township owned streets. However, many others are on private property. Stormwater facilities located on private property must also be maintained. In most cases the maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner or homeowner’s association in some newer subdivisions.

Maintenance of stormwater facilities is not limited to mowing the grass and keeping them free of debris. Any issues with a facility that prevents it from working as designed are also the responsibility of the owner. These could include removing debris preventing water from entering drains or pipes, removal of accumulated sediment (soil that has been deposited in the facility), or replacement of damaged or deteriorated structures.

Other Requirements of the MS4 Program

The MS4 program also requires the Township to take actions to directly reduce the amount of pollution in our streams. The majority of the length of the streams in the Township is classified by the State as “impaired” (where water quality limits any of the four uses: 1) aquatic life use, 2) fish consumption use, 3) recreation use, 4) potable water supply use). The pollutants that are of greatest concern in our streams are sediment, nitrogen, phosphorous, and bacteria. These pollutants can limit the recreational use of the streams (swimming, etc.) in addition to harming the Chesapeake Bay.

The Township is being required to reduce the amount of pollutants entering streams in urbanized areas [as defined by the 2010 census] during the term our current MS4 permit (which runs for five years through 2023). We must reduce sediment by 10%, total nitrogen by 5%, and total phosphorous by 3%. To do this we have created a Pollutant Reduction Plan (PRP) which has been approved by PA DEP. 

The PRP requires the Township to undertake several projects including retrofitting some existing stormwater basins that had been designed to just reduce the peak flow of a 100-year storm (a storm that is so intense that it only happens on average once in 100 years). The redesigns will change the functions of the basin to include pollutant reduction. Another part of the PRP is to restore the banks of streams so as to reduce the rate at which soil is eroded and washed downstream. These projects, for the required engineering design work and construction, are estimated to cost over $600,000. during the next four years. This sum is in addition to the annual cost of complying with the other requirements of the MS4 program (which is estimated to be around $150,000. per year).

Each year the Township must file an annual report to PA DEP detailing the progress made towards the goals of the PRP and the compliance the numerous other requirements of the permit. The required annual report is very extensive (last years’ report was about an inch and a half thick) and time consuming. If you are interested in the details of our MS4 program requirements, here is a link to a pdf file of our permit [East Cocalico PAG-13 MS4 General Permit].

Funding the MS4 Program

The funds to carry out the PRP and the other parts of the MS4 program will come partly from grants from the state. We have received a grant from the “Growing Greener” grant program of $45,000 which will cover engineering design work and permitting (permits are required to make changes to streams) the stream bank restoration part of the PRP. We are also hoping to receive additional funding through this grant program.

Even with additional grant money (which is not guaranteed as these grants are competitive), there will still be significant expenses that will need to come from the Township. The Township Supervisors and staff are currently working on developing the mechanism for raising the required funds. Our options include a “stormwater fee,” or some type of tax (which is called a “rain tax” in some municipalities). We are working to develop the most equitable method of raising these necessary funds.

   Healthy Lawns, Healthy Waters (from Chesapeake Bay Foundation – pdf file)

   Reducing Water Pollution on Your Property (from Penn State Extension)

   Onsite Stormwater Management and Homeowners (from U.S. Housing and Urban Development)

   A Homeowner's Guide to Stormwater Management (from Philly Watersheds.org – pdf file)

MS4 and Stormwater Information:

   U.S. EPA’s MS4 Site

   PA DEP Stormwater Site

   Quick Resource Guide to the MS4 Program (from PA DEP – pdf file)

   Map of PA Municipalities with MS4 Permits or Waivers

   MS4 Program Information (From Lycoming County, PA – pdf file)

The Chesapeake Bay:

   The Chesapeake Bay Foundation

   The Chesapeake Bay Program

   Chesapeake Stormwater Network

   The status of Chesapeake watershed implementation plans - from the Bay Journal, April 14, 2020

   Restoration of the Chesapeake Bay (from U.S. EPA)

   Nitrogen Totals (MAP)

Cocalico Creek Watershed Association

   http://lancasterwatersheds.org/associations/cocalico-creek-watershed-association/

   https://www.facebook.com/CocalicoCreekWaterhedAssn/

If You See Something, Say Something

     One source of water pollution is unfortunately illegal dumping.  It can take the form of someone dumping material down a storm drain, such as used antifreeze or motor oil, or other waste products. Storm drains should ONLY receive storm water. Water entering storm drains eventually flows into streams which, in our Township, all drain into the Chesapeake Bay. On rare occasion commercial haulers of wastes have also been known to take a less expensive disposal option and dump materials into waterways.

If you see any illegal dumping into streams or storm sewers, report it by calling 911. If you see that a harmful substance has entered a stream and killed fish, report it directly to the PA Fish and Boat Commissions Pollution Hotline at 855-347-4445 or the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection at 1-800-541-2050 (24/7).

For additional information or for answers to questions, contact Ken McCrea, MS4 Technician/Stormwater Enforcement Officer at 717-336-1720 or MS4@EastCocalicoTownship.com.