Stormwater Management
Phoenixville’s MS4 PROGRAM
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System Program
Untreated and uncontrolled stormwater runoff is the number one cause of impairment in local Pennsylvania waterways. Polluted runoff is often transported through municipal stormwater systems where it is eventually discharged into streams.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a municipal stormwater management program known as the MS4 Program that is intended to improve water quality of the waterways in the United States, by reducing the quantities of pollutants that stormwaters can carry into stormsewer systems during storm events.
As part of the MS4 Program, the Borough of Phoenixville, like other municipalities, holds a permit to discharge stormwater into the local waterways.
As part of this permit, the Borough is responsible for overseeing a stormwater management program that reduces the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent possible, and that satisfies the water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act. In Pennsylvania, the MS4 program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The MS4 stormwater management program has six elements known as “minimum control measures” (MCM). It is intended that implementation of these six MCMs will result in an immediate and long-term reduction of pollutants that are discharged into waterways. The six minimum control measures include Public Education and Outreach, Public Participation and Involvement, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Construction Site Runoff Control, Post Construction Runoff Control and Borough Pollution Prevention / Good Housekeeping.
The Borough of Phoenixville is committed to improving water quality within the municipal watershed through better management of stormwater runoff. Every resident and business owner needs to participate in the municipal stormwater program by reducing and preventing pollutant runoff from their own property. They should also report any non stormwater discharges that flow into local waterways to the Borough at 610 933 8801.
The following provides links and additional information concerning stormwater runoff.
Links
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection – Storm Water Management
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Center for Watershed Protection
Educational Material
After the Storm
Solution to Stormwater Pollution
Urban Runoff Information
Pet Waste Tips
Fertilizing Tips
Grasscycling
Water Efficient Landscaping
Housekeeping for Restaurants
Housekeeping for Auto Fueling and Repair Shops
In some way everybody contributes to polluting our waterways and in nearly every case we can help keep our water clean simply by making a few small adjustments. Understanding more about Stormwater Runoff will help you do your part to help keep our water clean.