Quick Links

Stormwater Management

For information specifically related to flooding, please visit the following page: Flood Information

Welcome to Stormwater Management Information page. This page is designed to provide Borough residents and property owners with quick access to information and resources to preserve and protect our water in the Borough and the Lancaster County regional community. Manheim Borough is actively involved in a variety of programs and initiatives to meet various Statewide and National goals for clean water.

As this communities knows, heavy rains can cause serious problems for this community. In 2011, Tropical Storm Lee caused widespread flooding in this community. Over the years, other storms have caused property damage and flooding of our roads, bridges, parks, and homes.

We all have a role to play to protect this community from the impacts of the rain.

Stormwater originates from rainfall and other precipitation that runs off of surfaces all over the Borough – rooftops, streets, construction sites, lawns, fields, etc. Stormwater makes its way either along the surface or soaks into the ground. The surface water flows into swales, storm drains, and other natural water courses. As this water moved toward the streams and rivers, it will pick up loose things on the ground with it. This can include pollutants, sediment, leaves, trash, etc. The groundwater often times comes to the surface from springs in the water table.The Borough, together with the Borough Authority, Penn Township and Rapho Township are actively working to protect the ground water, the primary source of our drinking water in this region. The Borough is therefore developing a variety of programs and strategies to enhance water quality through plantings, mowing strategies, implementation of storm water management facilities and other “best management practices” (BMPs). We hope that you will find this information useful in learning about the requirements as well as tools to use on your own.

STORM WATER INLETS

SUMP PUMPS

Please remember that the Borough requires that all sump pumps go through grass or yards before getting into our storm water system. Also, no sump pump systems are permitted to be pumped directly into the sanitary (public sewer) system or directly onto a street or alley. If your system is connected to the sewer, it must be disconnected immediately. If you are not sure, please feel free to contact the Authority and their staff will be able to help you figure that out. The extra water in the system puts a strain on the sewer treatment plant and can result in problems for the Authority and increased cost for you.

In addition, please monitor the storm water facilities that you see or live near. If you see something that looks wrong or that is causing these facilities to be polluted or blocked, please call the Borough office at (717) 665-2461.

Examples of illicit discharges include:

Sediment leaving a construction site during a storm or being carried out onto the public road
Spills (Chemical, Gas, Oil)
Illegal dumping activity into streams or storm water facilities
Dry weather flows from outfalls into streams (at least 72 hours after a storm)

Storm Water Management – NPDES and MS4 Programs

The Clean Water Act is the federal legislation that governs storm water management. Stormwater point discharges to waters of the U.S. (pipes and drain pipes) are regulated using National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.In 1999, federal regulations extended coverage of the NPDES program to Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4’s) serving populations less than 100,000. In 2003, Manheim Borough became an MS4 community and as such is required to comply with the NPDES program. Under the NPDES storm water program, the Borough is required to develop a storm water management program that provides the details of how the community will comply with the requirements of the permit. Permits are based on a framework of six minimum control measures:

MCM 1 – Public education and outreach
MCM 2 – Public participation and involvement
MCM 3 – Illicit discharge detection and elimination
MCM 4 – Construction site runoff control
MCM 5 – Post-construction storm water management in new development and redevelopment
MCM 6 – Pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations and maintenance

More information on this program is available from the Pennsylvania DEP website.PA DEP MS4 Resource Page

Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan

Click Here>> 2017-07-07 PRP Plan – DRAFT for Manheim Borough’s Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan, as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in order to meet the terms of the 2018-2023 MS4 Permit Cycle.

Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater

Click Here for Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater

Click Here for New Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater BMP Maintenance

What residents can do…

The goals of the Borough’s MS4 program are to reduce the discharge of pollutants into our waterways. The water that runs off your property and from the streets goes either into the ground and becomes groundwater or flows through a series of facilities such as swales and pipes to the waterways. If this water isn’t cleaned, all the pollutants the water carries end up in the stream and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay. You can help to keep our water clean by doing the following:

Properly dispose of water from your property (rainwater, pool water, sump pumps, etc.) – directing water runoff over grassy areas, and not into streets and gutters, is required whenever this option is possible.
Do not wash your car in your driveway or in the street.
Clean up after your pets.
Use fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides correctly, beginning by using absolute minimum recommended application rates.
Properly secure and store materials that could pollute storm water. When servicing your vehicle, do not allow oil, antifreeze, or other fluids to spill or drain onto any surface of the ground.