WHAT IS THE MS4 STORMWATER PROGRAM?
The purpose of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program is to maintain and enhance water quality in the United States.
Untreated or uncontrolled stormwater is the number one cause of impairment to our local waterways. Polluted run-off is often transported through municipal storm- water systems, where it is eventually discharged, untreated into streams and other water bodies.
The MS4 program is the result of 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act whereby Congress mandated that the US EPA address non-point source (NPS) pollution in stormwater runoff. NPS pollution comes from many sources, such as rainfall or snow melt runoff. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and man-made pollutants, depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and even our underground sources of drinking water.
In Pennsylvania, the Department of Environmental Protection administers the MS4 program. As part of the MS4 program, East Pikeland Township holds a permit to discharge stormwater into local waterways. This permit requires the township to design a stormwater management program that reduces the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent possible. The MS4 Stormwater Management Program has six elements termed “minimum control measures” that, when implemented, result in a significant reduction in pollutants discharged into water ways. The six control measures are:
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Every resident and business owner in East Pikeland Township can participate in the MS4 program. Here are some important ways you can prevent stormwater pollution:
- Properly dispose of hazardous substances such as used oil, cleaning supplies and paint.
- Never throw anything down any part of the storm sewer system and report anyone who does.
- Use pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides properly and efficiently to prevent excess runoff.
- Report signs of potential pollutants such as soil, debris, or chemicals from construction sites.
- Install innovative stormwater practices such as rain barrels or rain gardens to capture stormwater.
- Pick up after your pets and dispose of their waste properly.
- Volunteer for local or regional stream clean-up days.
