STORM WATER -The Department of Environmental Protection has designated Manchester Borough as an MS4 municipality. As such, Manchester Borough is encouraged to inform its citizens concerning storm water runoff and the effects of pollutants on the water system. Rain by nature is important for replenishing drinking water supplies, recreation, and healthy wildlife habitats. It only becomes a problem when pollutants from our activities like car maintenance, lawn care, and dog walking are left on the ground for rain to wash away. Remember that whatever you put in a storm drain or on your streets affects our environment and health. click to view “When it Rains, it Drains” publication to learn more.
DEP encourages the public to become involved in related projects to improve our environment. Volunteers will be welcomed. Please contact the borough office for information. The office will be pleased to work with your organization to participate in a project.
YORK COUNTY REGIONAL CHESAPEAKE BAY POLLUTANT REDUCTION PLAN – Manchester Borough is participating in the Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement for the Plan to control stormwater and improve water quality. Municipalities will be cooperatively working together to not only restore impaired waters but help to fund projects that will reduce nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment from entering waters in York County, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
The Borough has executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Watershed Alliance of York (WAY) to promote watershed protection. WAY is a coalition of stakeholders committed to being innovative leaders educating the public and encouraging watershed-based planning, restoration and protection in York County, Pennsylvania, and beyond. WAY provides watershed educational assistance and sponsors stream and illegal dump site cleanups throughout the year. For a summary of WAY’s upcoming activities, please visit: Watershed Alliance of York (WAY), Inc.
Envirothon is an annual environmentally themed academic competition. Envirothon combines in-class and hands-on environmental education in a competition setting which involves a problem-solving presentations as well as written field tests. This program is available to Borough school students through the local school district. To learn more about the Envirothon, please Visit: York County Conservation District Envirothon
Under the MS4 Program, the Borough is required to submit an Annual Report to DEP to demonstrate compliance with all program requirements. The Borough’s latest Annual Report may be viewed at the Manchester Borough Office.
POOL WATER
About MS4
MS4 is an acronym for a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. MS4 is defined as a collection and conveyance system or a group of collection and conveyance systems owned, operated and maintained by a state, city, township or borough that is dedicated solely for handling stormwater runoff and discharging it into tributaries, streams, rivers, lakes or other natural or man-made receiving waters within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The MS4 system may include such structures as storm pipes, catch basins, trench drains, roadside swales and cross drains, conveyance channels, detention ponds, infiltration basins, rain gardens or other structures designated for the collection, storage and conveyance of storm water runoff.
What is Stormwater?
Stormwater originates from rainfall and other precipitation that runs off surfaces all over the Borough, i.e. rooftops, streets, construction sites, down spouts and lawns, etc. Storm water makes its way into swails, storm drains, natural water courses and it literally takes everything loose on the ground along with it when it rains … pollutants, sediment, leaves, trash, etc. The borough is actively involved in meeting statutory permitting requirements under state and federal law. . Catch basins with a identifies the catch basins that run directly to the river. Stormwater directly and adversely affects the water quality of our natural waterways, fish and other aquatic animals.
Stormwater Management – NPDES & MS4
The Clean Water Act is the federal legislation that governs stormwater management. Stormwater point discharges to waters of the U.S. (pipes and drain pipes), and are regulated using National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. In 1999, federal regulations extended coverage for the NPDES program to local separate storm sewer systems (MS4’s) serving populations of less than 100,000. Manchester Borough is required to comply with the NPDES program as a MS4 municipality. Under the NPDES stormwater program, permittees must develop a stormwater management plan that provides the details of how the community will comply with the requirements of the permit.
Manchester Borough is actively working on meeting the NPDES and MS4 statutory permitting requirements. Local residents have a role to play too, which when combined together will have a positive impact on our environment and the water that is so important to us all. The permits are based on a framework of 6 control measures: Public education and outreach; Public participation and involvement; Illicit discharge detection and elimination; Construction site runoff control; Postconstruction stormwater management in new development/redevelopment; Pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations and maintenance.
“Become Part of the Solution… Not Part of the Problem”
Consider reducing the amount of impervious surface on a property with driveways built from porous asphalt. Place a barrel under a down spout to capture the water for use in watering the lawn or garden. Maintaining grass at a height of at least 4 inches slows the growth of weeds while better absorbing stormwater. Consider planting a rain garden to slow down stormwater runoff, filter pollution, protect rivers and streams and create a healthy habitat for birds and butterflies. Plants and trees absorb rain, and leaves drip rainfall onto the ground hours after a storm giving water a chance to seep slowly into the ground.
Manchester Borough is asking residents to assist us in keeping our stormwater and storm sewer system clean by remembering to do the following:
- Dispose of water properly
- Clean up after your pets
- Use fertilizer properly and efficiently to prevent excess runoff
- Store materials that could pollute storm water indoors
- Do not dump oils, greases or other hazardous materials into the storm sewer drains
Also, please monitor storm water inlets near your property. If you see a problem please call the Borough at (717) 266-1022
Manchester Borough is working hard to follow the guidelines set down by the county, state and federal government.
- To learn more about stormwater, go to Stormwaterpa.org or visit the Pennsylvania DEP’S Stormwater Management Program website
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES Stormwater Program
Illict Discharge Reporting
- Download the Illicit Discharge Reporting Form
