A portion of the Wissahickon Creek.
Elevated levels of dog waste and fecal coliform bacteria identified in the storm waterways and natural bodies of water in and around the township is one of many reasons the township engineer continues to be vigilant in the management of pollution of the local stormwater system.
Township Engineer Isaac Kessler, P.E., presented Upper Gwynedd Commissioners Tuesday night with an annual update on its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System program (MS4) for township stormwater management. The report was co-authored by MS4 Coordinator Michael DeAngelis and MS4 Team Lead Liz Colletti.
Yet, it is not exclusively animal waste on impervious surfaces affecting local waterways. Stormwater management under the MS4 program involves the reduction of certain nitrogen, phosphorus, and inorganic solids called sediment levels, Kessler said, through Pollution Control Measures.
Kessler told the board the MS4 focuses on best management practices for stormwater conveyance from impervious surfaces (i.e., asphalt, concrete) to local waterways. It should also investigate expanding its animal ordinance specifications for animal waste.
“It’s about keeping separate the township storm system that drains stormwater to a creek or waterways we have throughout the township, and the sewer water, that we direct to the treatment plant,” Kessler said. “We don’t want any sewage and pollutants getting into a waterway that outlets to streams for local wildlife and recreation … we want to have healthy, clean waterways in our township.”
Rain falls from the sky onto your roof, then into your gutter, then onto the driveway or into the yard (and joins whatever else washed from your driveway or patio or street), then maybe flows to an inlet or into a swale, a basin, or a rain garden. It flushes through a subterranean storm sewer system, expelling into a local creek like the Wissahickon or Zacharias, or other body of water.
Then, sometimes, oil, gasoline or another pollutant – such as feces – makes its way to the storm sewer system, and taints an inlet, basin or rain garden, or the Wissahickon Creek, or any of the Wissahickon or Zacharias watersheds.
Kessler’s report identified the watersheds of Skippack Creek, Towamencin Creek, Wissahickon Creek, and Zacharias Creek as needing Pollution Reduction Plans, which look to reduce pollutants by 2024.
“(Pollutants) are above thresholds we prefer, which is why they are impaired,” Kessler said. “Areas that drain to creeks have built up over the years, and the current approach is to get the areas back … for it to be healthy for the environment and healthy for the water we use to work and play, and that the township interacts with on a daily basis.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requires municipalities to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for any discharges of water from municipal storm water systems.
“It controls how stormwater is managed before it hits waterways,” Kessler said. He said the township can map its stormwater system, which can identify discharge areas with issues involving pollutants. Then, he said, the township can focus on resources to mitigate pollution in those areas with pipes and connections along the path.
According to the Pennsylvania DEP, MS4s that discharge to waters impaired for certain pollutants or that discharge to waters in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are required to develop Pollutant Reduction Plans (PRPS) or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans. TMDL plans, born in the U.S. Clean Water Act, involve planning for the restoration of impaired waters that identifies the most pollution a body of water can receive while still meeting quality standards.
“It all focuses on pollutants and how to mitigate and control those, so you don’t get too much of that in streamways,” Kessler said.
The permit, he said, requires the management plan to incorporate six control measures, which includes public outreach through distribution of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association’s “CURRENTS” newsletter and additional website information. Other measures include public involvement via Earth Day volunteering, Arbor Day Events and the like, illicit discharge detection by enforcing prohibited discharges via ordinances and conducting basin inspections, and construction site runoff control.
“It focuses on methods used to control a construction site: Keep it clean and tidy, contain and prevent washing dirt out into streams, and routine construction inspections,” Kessler said. “There is post-construction stormwater management, which are longer term operational and maintenance plans for stormwater.”
Kessler said the township staff has been “fantastic in keeping records when things happen” and commended the management at the waste treatment plant for working with his group in packaging necessary documentation for the state DEP.
“They take pride in making sure we are on track … they show how every day working together can address these issues to make (our waterways) as clean as possible,” he said.
See also:
Reintroduced Bills Would Limit Amount Of Chemicals In Pennsylvania Drinking Water
Local Reps Ask Gov. Wolf To Fund $1.6 Million PFAS And Cancer Study
Stephens, Polinchock And Schroeder Announce MIRIA Grants For PFAS Remediation And Infrastructure
Horsham Water Consumers To Receive PFAS Removal Reimbursement Checks
Stephens Announces First MIRIA PFAS Grants Awarded
