WHAT
IS STORMWATER?
 When
it rains or snows, the water soaks into the ground,
evaporates back into the atmosphere or runs off.
This runoff, also known as storm water, has some
obvious impacts such as flooding and erosion.
Some less obvious, but equally important, impacts
of stormwater runoff include increased pollution,
reduced ground water supplies, and lower stream
flows during dry spells. Traditionally, stormwater
has been seen as a nuisance to be collected and
dumped into the nearest ditch or stream and disposed
of. Unfortunately, such an approach neglects the
reality that most of us live or work downstream
of someone else. As a result, our neighbor's nuisance
becomes our problem, which in turn becomes a problem
for our downstream neighbors.
STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT
 Stormwater
management involves the control of water that
runs off the surface of the land from rain or
melting ice or snow. The volume, or amount of
runoff and its rate of runoff, substantially increases
as land development occurs. Construction of impervious
surfaces, such as roofs and parking lots, and
the installation of storm sewer pipes which efficiently
collect and discharge runoff, prevent infiltration
of rainfall into the soil.
Management of stormwater is necessary to compensate
for the possible impacts of development such as
flooding, erosion and sedimentation problems,
concentration on flow on adjacent properties,
damages to roads, bridges and other infrastructure
as well as non-point source pollution washed off
from impervious surfaces.
The
Borough is required to obtain a permit under the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) in order to operate a storm sewer system.
The permit, called a Municipal Separate Storm
Sewer System (MS4) permit, requires the Borough
to take certain steps to ensure that stormwater
in the Borough is properly managed and controlled.
It also requires that the Borough educate the
public about storm water impacts, as well as provide
opportunities for public involvement and participation. To read more about the MS4 program, permits and impacts click on the links below:
WHAT
YOU CAN DO TO HELP
Only Rain in the Drain – Never
dump anything into a storm drain, including oil,
paint, soap, debris, and leaves. Storm sewers
don't go to the sewer plant but discharge directly
into streams. You might be pouring oil into your
own drinking water!
 Auto
Care – Washing your car at home on the
driveway or street can send detergents and other
contaminants through the storm sewer system. It
is best to wash your car at a commercial car wash
where the wastewater is treated and recycled.
If you do wash your car at home, do so near a
grassy area where the water can infiltrate into
the ground. And never dump motor oil or antifreeze
into the storm drain. Dispose of these at a local
service station or approved recycling center.
Plant Native Trees and Shrubs
– Erosion of streambanks can be prevented through
the use of vegetated strips along the banks. Also
known as riparian buffers, these strips of tall
grasses, tress and flowers act to stabilize banks,
which prevents erosion and additional sediment
load in the stream.
Residential Landscaping
 Downspouts:
Direct all downspouts away from pervious surfaces
and onto lawns. Rain barrels can be used to collect
water from downspouts, making it available for
watering.
 Lawn
Care: Fertilizers and pesticides should be
used sparingly. When applied in excess, these
chemicals are washed off by rainwater and enter
the local storm sewer system. Do not sweep yard
waste and leaves into the street. These add extra
nutrients to streams.
 Rain
Gardens: A specially designed rain garden
can be planted with native vegetation to that
will provide an area for rainwater to collect
and soak into the ground. Stormwater from rooftop
drains and pavement areas can be directed to these
vegetated areas.
 Pick
Up After Your Dog – Pet waste can be
a major source of excess nutrients and bacteria
to our streams. Always properly dispose of pet
waste.
Want
to learn more? Click here to check out "A
Homeowner's Guide to Stormwater
Management" and a brochure on "Caring for Your Streamside Property."
Get involved! Attend a Stream Clean Event
sponsored by the Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds
Association. Help the Swarthmore Environmental
Advisory Council restore the riparian buffer along
Little Crum Creek. Clean off the storm drains
near your house! Learn more by checking out the
following websites:
Department of Environmental
Protection: www.depweb.state.pa.us; keyword: stormwater
DEP Southeast Regional Office: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/southeast_regional_office/13778
US Environmental Protection Agency: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwatermonth.cfm
Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds
Association: www.crcwatersheds.org
Delaware County Conservation
District: www.delcocd.org
Partnership for the Delaware
Estuary: www.delawareestuary.org
STORMWATER
IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS!
Who are you going to call?
 Citizens
can help report violations or problems they notice
in their local streams before they cause more
damage and pollution. Residents sometimes
may be the first to recognize "illicit"
discharges being directed into storm sewers or
flowing out of storm sewer outfall pipes into
streams. "Dry weather flows"-flows
from storm sewer outfall pipes after 72 hours
or more without rain-should be reported to your
municipality for further investigation.
You can help by promptly reporting the following
events to the authorities listed below.
Here are some of the conditions that you should
report and to whom they should be reported.
Water
pollution events can also be reported online through
the DEP web site www.dep.state.pa.us select Environmental
Complaints, then Southeast Region.
- DEP Water Quality Complaint Hotline
484-250-5991 or 5970
Monday to Friday 8am to 4:30 pm
 DEP 24-Hour Water Quality Hotline
484-250-5900 or 800-541-2050 (toll free)
Anytime, including evenings and weekends.
- Spills and other Emergencies
Hotline
PA DEP 484-250-5900
PA Emergency Mgt. Agency
800-424-7362
- Off site discharge of sediment
Delaware County Conservation District
610-892-9484
Send photo, full address and directions
 Clogged, leaking, overflowing
sewer lines
Swarthmore Borough
610-543-4599
After hours call 911; if sewage is entering water
courses, also call DEP
- Fish Kills, Illegal Fishing
PA Fish & Boat Commission
717-626-0228
For fish kills, also call DEP AT 484-250-5991,
5970 OR 5900
- Dry weather storm sewer outfall
flows
Swarthmore Borough
610-543-4599
Weekdays during working hours
Aqua PA 610-525-1402
24 hour
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Sediment leaving a construction site during
rain events and other construction violations
(