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. |
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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.
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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 runoff pollution?
S
Use fertilizers sparingly and sweep up
driveways, sidewalks, & gutters
S Never
dump anything down storm drains or in
streams
S
Vegetate bare spots in your yard
S
Compost your yard waste
S
Use least toxic pesticides, follow labels, and
learn how to prevent pest problems
S
Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces;
consider a rain garden to
capture
rainwater
S Take your car
to the car wash instead of washing
S it in the street or driveway street or
driveway
|
 |
SCheck your car for leaks and recycle your motor
oil
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 what you can
do. |
 |
|
S
Have your septic tank pumped and inspected
regularly.
 |
S
Reuse and recycle paint & paint thinner
Sor take it to a local hazardous waste
S
collection location
Click
here for dates and locations:
S
2009
Hazardous Waste
Collection
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S
Keep
all litter off the street and place it in
receptacles so that it does not get washed or
S blown down storm drains
S Service your
car regularly to prevent gasoline, oil, brake
and transmission fluids,
S and anti-freeze from
leaking onto the pavement and washing into our
streams
S Recycle
product containers made of glass, plastic and
aluminum
S Use absorbent
materials like kitty litter or toweling to soak
up any spills, then sweep up
S and dispose of these items properly - never dilute
spills with water
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. |