The Clean Water Act is the federal legislation that governs stormwater management. Stormwater point discharges to waters of the U.S. are regulated using National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. In 1999, federal regulations extended coverage of the NPDES program to local separate storm sewer systems (MS4’s) serving populations less than 100,000. Horsham Township is required to comply with the NPDES program as a MS4. Under the NPDES stormwater program, permittees must develop a stormwater management plan that provides the details of how the community (Horsham Township ) will comply with the requirements of the permit. Permits are based on a framework of six minimum control measures:

• Public education and outreach
• Public participation and involvement
• Illicit discharge detection and elimination
• Construction site runoff control
• Post-construction storm water management in new development and redevelopment
• Pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations and maintenance

More information on this program is available from the Pennsylvania DEP website.

Horsham Township
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4)

The goals of all MS4s programs and Horsham Township are to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the township, to protect water quality and to satisfy requirements of the Clean Water Act. Horsham Township would like you to remember that the water and any items that go into a storm sewer go directly into streams. This water is not cleaned in any way and does not go to the waste water treatment plant. Horsham Township needs all of its residents to assist us in keeping our storm water and storm water sewer system clean by doing the following: dispose of water properly, clean up after your pets, use fertilizers properly and efficiently to prevent excess runoff and store materials that could pollute storm water indoors. Also, please monitor storm water inlets near your property. No one should dump anything into the storm sewer system. If you see someone dumping please call the township at 215-643-3131. Thank you.

Storm Drain Stenciling:

Horsham Township has been marking all of the storm drains in the township with the "No Dumping / Drains to Stream" stencils. Horsham Township with the assistance of many volunteers has marked most of the storm drains in the Township. These storm drain stencils educate the public that anything you dump into the storm drain ends up directly in a creek or other public water way. If you would like volunteer and help with storm drain stenciling: check your neighborhood for missing stencils and then call Mark Hudson at 215-672-6913 or e-mail us at stormwater@horsham.org. Let him know the number of stencils you need and he can drop them off to you so that you can put them on.

What Residents can help watch for:

• Sediment leaving a construction site in stormwater
• Spills (Chemical, Gas, Oil)
• Illegal dumping activity into streams or storm sewers (PLEASE CALL 911 FIRST)
• Dry weather flows from outfall pipes into streams (72 hours after a rain storm)

Residents may be the first to recognize "illicit" discharges dumping into storm sewers or coming out of from storm sewer outfalls. If you see an "illicit" discharge please report that to the township by one of the following methods:

Call Mark Hudson at 215-672-6913
E-mail: stormwater@horsham.org

Watersheds in Horsham Township

• Neshaminay Creek
• Park Creek
• Pennypack Creek
• Wissahickon Creek

Links:

• Little Neshaminy Creek River Conservation Plan
• Pennsylvania DEP Website on Storm Water Management
• U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Center for Watershed protection
• Montgomery County Conservation District
• Park Creek Watershed Association
• Wissahickon Watershed Valley Association
• EPA’s Stormwater Tool Box of Education Materials
• Homeowner’s Guide to Storm Water Management

EPA Fact Sheets:

• Overview of the Phase II program
• Small MS4 overview
• Who’s covered?
• Urbanized Areas

Educational Pamphlets

HOME OWNER:

• When it Rains it Drains Brochure
• After the Storm
• Make Your Home the Solution to Stormwater Pollution Brochure
• Water Efficient Landscaping
• A Homeowners Guide to Stormwater Management: thanks to The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
• “Clean Water is Everybody’s Business”
• “Storm Water Pollution Found in Your Area!” Door Hanger
• “Kids Storm Water Stickers”
• “10 Things That You Can Do to Prevent Storm Water Runoff Pollution”
• “Take the Storm Water Runoff Challenge” placemat

EDUCATIONAL POSTERS:

Fertilizer	Car Wash	Oil Leaking	Pet Waste

CONSTRUCTION:

• EPA's Link for Construction
• Storm water and the Construction Industry Poster
• How Do I get Storm Water Permit Coverage for my construction Site
• Don't Let Storm Water Run off With Your Time and Money