What is an MS4 Program ?

Municipalities throughout the country are under federal mandate to develop a storm water management program to reduce pollution impacts from stormwater runoff. An MS4 is made up of drainage systems including streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ponds, ditches, man– made channels and storm pipes owned by a state, county, city, town, township, borough or other public entity. Polluted runoff is often transported through municipal drainage systems until it eventually discharges into streams, lakes, and rivers used for swimming, fishing and providing drinking water. This water is not treated or cleaned in any way and does not go to a wastewater treatment plant. If you like to fish, swim or boat, pollutants will affect you.

MS4 programs are intended to improve our nation’s surface waters by reducing the quantities of pollutants that are picked up by runoff and transported into the storm sewer systems during rainfall events. As part of the MS4 Program, municipalities hold a permit to discharge stormwater into local waterways. Lower Nazareth Township was issued an MS4 permit through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. This permit requires Lower Nazareth Township to implement and maintain a stormwater management program that (1) reduces the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent possible; (2) protects water quality; and (3) satisfies the water quality requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act.

The 6 Elements Minimum Control Measures

The MS4 program has (6) elements termed “Minimum Control Measures” that when implemented should result in significant reduction in pollutants discharged into receiving waters. The (6) minimum control measures include the following:

6 Elements

1. Public education and Outreach
2. Public Participation and Involvement
3. Illicit Discharge detection and Elimination
4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
5. Post Construction Stormwater Management (New and Development and redevelopment)
6. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping – YOU CAN HELP!!

Clean Waterways

Lower Nazareth Township is actively involved in a variety of programs and initiatives to meet various statewide and national goals for clean water, but township residents have a role to play as well. Working together, we will have a positive impact on our water system and our environment and the water that we all need. Keep your eyes out for more information in future newsletters, on our website, and public meetings as we continue to work our way toward developing a program to keep pollution out of our waterways.

Making Prevention Easier

While this may seem like a daunting task, every little bit helps. On a daily basis we can all do our share. Here are just a few suggestions:

• Never dump anything into storm drains, swales, or streams.
• Instead of hosing your car off in your driveway, use a commercial car wash.
• Check your car, boat, motorcycle and other machinery & equipment for leaks and spills. Clean up spilled fluids with an absorbent material like kitty litter or sand, & don’t rinse the spills into a nearby storm drain.
• Use a salt – free deicer instead of rock salt.
• Recycle motor oil, paint and other hazardous chemicals. Never dump such materials down the drain or into the storm system. Properly dispose of excess paints and chemicals through a hazardous waste program.
• Use fertilizers properly and efficiently to prevent excess runoff. Do not fertilize or use pesticides within 15 to 20 feet of a stream. Keeping this distance will help keep chemicals out of waterways.
• Set your mower height to 3” or higher. Taller grass slows the runoff and produces a deeper and denser root system, which absorbs more water and prevents erosion. Deeper roots also reduce the need for watering during droughts and suppress weeds from growing up around them.
• Store gasoline, oil and other chemical materials indoors.
• Always pick up your pet’s waste so harmful bacteria can’t get into our water!
• Have your septic system inspected by a professional at least every 3 years, & have the septic tank pumped as necessary.
• Drain you swimming pool only when a test kit does not detect chlorine levels.