• General Information
  • About & History
  • Comprehensive Plan
  • Contact, Location & Directions
  • Favorite Links
  • Library
  • New Resident's Guide
  • Parks & Facilities
  • Snow Removal Procedures
  • Stormwater Management
• Council & Officials
  • Borough Council & Officials
  • Meeting Agendas
  • Meeting Schedule
• Departments
  • Fire
  • Police
• Resources
  • Calendar of Events
  • Contact, Location & Directions
  • Forms & Permits
  • Maps
  • Online Feedback Form
  • Site Map
  • Website Policy

• Home
• General Information

North Wales Borough Stormwater Management

What Happens When It Rains?

Rain is an important part of nature's water cycle, but there are times it can do more damage than good. Problems related to stormwater runoff can include:

Flooding caused by too much stormwater flowing over hardened surfaces such as roads and parking lots, instead of soaking into the ground.

Increases in spending on maintaining storm drains and the storm sewer system that become clogged with excessive dirt and debris.

Decreases in sportfish populations because storm water carries sediment and polutants that degrade important fish habitat.

More expensive treatment technologies to remove harmful pollutants carried by stormwater into our drinking water supplies.

Closed beaches due to high levels of bacteria carried by storm water that make swimming unsafe.

We can help rain restore its good reputation while protecting our health and environment while saving money for ourselves and our community. Keep reading to find out how...

Restoring Rain's Reputation:
What Everyone Can Do To Help

Rain by nature is important for replenishing drinking water supplies, recreation, and healthy wildlife habitats. It only becomes a problem when our activities like car maintenance, lawn care, and dog walking are left on the ground for rain to wash away. Here are some of the most important ways to prevent stormwater pollution:

• Properly dispose of hazardous substance ssuch as used oil, cleaning supplies and paint --never pour them down any part of the storm sewer system and report anyone who does.
• Use pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides properly and efficently to prevent excess runoff.
• Look for signs of soil and other pollutants, such as debris and chemicals, leaving construction sites in storm water runoff or tracked into roads by construction vehicles. Report poorly managed construction sites that could impact stormwater runoff to your community.(See the back of this brochure for contact information.)
• Install innovative stormwater practices on residential property, such as rain barrels or rain gardens, that capture stormwater and keep it on site instead of letting it drain away into the storm water system.
• Report any discharges from stormwater outfalls during times of dry weather - a sign that there could be a problem with the storm sewer system.
• Pick up after pets and dispose of their waste properly. No matter where the pets make a mess - in a backyard or at the park - stormwater runoff can carry pet waste from the land to the storm sewer system to a stream.
• Store materials that could pollute storm water indoors and use containers for outdoor storage that do not rust or leak to eliminate exposure of materials to stormwater.

What Is Stormwater?

Stormwater is water from precipitation that flows across the ground and pavement when it rains or when snow and ice melt. The water seeps into the ground or drains into what we call storm sewers. These are the drains you see at street corners or at low points on the sides of streets. Collectively, the draining water is called storm water runoff.

Why Is Stormwater "Good Rain Gone Wrong?"

Stormwater becomes a problem when it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants as it flows or when ot causes flooding and erosion of stream banks. Storm water travels through a system of pipes and roadside ditches that make up storm sewer systems. It eventually flowa directly to a lake, river, stream, wetland, or costal water. All of the pollutants stormwater carries along the way empty into our waters, too, because stormwater soes not get treated!

Pet wastes left on the ground get carried away by stormwater, contributing harmful bacteria, parasites and viruses to our water.

Vehicles release fluids (oil, grease, gasoline, antifreeze, brake fluids, etc.) onto paves areas where stormwater runoff carries them through our storm drains and into our water.

Chemicals used to grow and maintain beautiful lawns and gardens, if not used properly, can run off into the storm drains when it rains or when we water our lawns and gardens.

Waste from chemicals and materials used in construction can wash into the storm sewer system when it rains. Soil that erodes from construction sites causes environmental degradation, including harming fish and shellfish populations that are important for recreation and our economy.

Where To Go To Continue the Information Flow

Your community is preventing stormwater pollution through a storm water management program. This program addresses stormwater pollution from construction, new development, illegal dumping to the storm water system, and pollution prevention and good housekeeping practices in municipal operations. It will also continue to educatethe community and to get everyone involved in making sure the only thing that stormwater contibutes to our water is... water! Contact your community's stormwater management program coordinator or the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for more information about stormwater management.

Stormwater Management Links

• Center for Watershed Protection
  www.stormwatercenter.net