Why is stormwater management important to our community? Stormwater management is directly related to our water quality -and water quality affects us all.  Managing stormwater properly protects wildlife, maintains a healthy environment around us and ensures quality drinking water.

Pennsburg Borough operates Municipal Storm Sewer Systems (MS4).  This underground system of pipes carries rainwater and snowmelt away from roads and parking lots and discharges the drainage water into lakes and rivers.  Ideally, this system should transport mostly clean water.  But because rainwater and snowmelt from streets, lawns, farms, and construction sites mixes with lawn fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and other pollutants, the runoff becomes contaminated.  This contaminated water eventually makes its way to into the storm sewer system and ultimately into our rivers, lakes and streams. Stormwater runoff is the most common cause of water pollution.

Part of the requirement for the MS4 Permit requires public education.  Storm Drain Markers meet part of that requirement by educating the public about storm water pollution.

What can you do to help prevent stormwater pollution?

SIn your yard: -Use fertilizers sparingly. -Compost your yard waste. -Sweep up yard debris rather and compost or recycle whenever possible. Do not wash grass clippings or leaves into the street. -Vegetate bare spots in your yard. -Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces. -Use least toxic pesticides and follow labels. -Use native plants and grasses that are drought and pest resistant. They require less water, fertilizer & pesticides.

S Pick up after your pet. When it rains, pet waste left on lawns can be washed into storm drains that lead to nearby lakes and streams. Untreated pet waste can cause significant water pollution.  Click here to find out more.

SAutomotive Care: -Take your car to the car wash instead of washing it in the street or driveway. -Check your vehicle for drips and oil leaks regularly and fix them promptly to prevent gasoline, oil, brake and transmission fluids, and anti-freeze from leaking onto the pavement and washing into our streams.   A single quart of oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water! -Keep your vehicle tuned to reduce oil use. -Use ground cloths or drip pans under your vehicle if you have leaks or if you are doing engine work. -Clean up spills immediately and properly dispose of materials. -Collect all used oil in containers with tight-fitting lids. Old plastic jugs are excellent for this purpose. -Recycle used motor oil. Many auto supply stores, car care centers, and gas stations will accept used oil or check www.wsaemc.org for recycling locations. -Do not pour any engine fluids down floor drains, sinks, storm drains or onto the ground.                                                Automotive Owner Guide

S Reuse and recycle paint & paint thinner     or take it to a local hazardous waste                 collection location                  2012 Hazardous Household Waste            Collection Locations & Dates

Other Things You Can Do:
-Have your septic tank pumped regularly.
-Recycle all containers made of glass, plastic & aluminum.
                    NEVER DUMP ANYTHING DOWN STORM DRAINS

POLLUTION HOTLINE:
If you see any type of incident that may impact a storm sewer system, such as an oil spill or other contaminant that may lead to a storm drain, please contact the Pennsburg Borough Office at 215-679-4546, ext. 3, or email us at pennsburginfo@pennsburg.us.
 

Please visit www.perkiomenwatershed.org CLICK HERE to complete a brief questionnaire. Your answers will help the efforts of the borough and the PWC to protect stormwater and prevent the pollution of our streams and groundwater wells, which supply our drinking water.

Information for Business Owners & Contractors It is important for business owners to realize that their daily practices may be impacting our water sources. Chemicals, cleaning products and runoff from construction sites can all be washed by rain and snowfall to storm drains . This contaminated water can eventually lead to our water sources. For more information about how businesses can prevent this type of water pollution visit National Menu of Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Site,  Enviromental Compliance for Automotive Recyclers, and Information for Restaurant Owners, Business Owner Guide, Restaurant Owner Guide, Environmental Management Assistance Program.