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Water quality and Stormwater Management
Quote from Carol Grayshaw on October 31, 2022, 11:28 amPlease use this topic to ask questions and share resources regarding water quality and stormwater management.
Please use this topic to ask questions and share resources regarding water quality and stormwater management.
Quote from KatieR on November 15, 2022, 10:20 amHi! Does anyone have resources they can share around stormwater runoff management ordinances and mitigation plans adopted at the borough/township level? Our EAC is rewriting our M4 (as I'm sure everyone is), and we are interested in looking at ways in which we can go beyond the bare minimum requirements. Any sample ordinances that your municipality used or sample comprehensive plans you've adopted would be welcome. We are trying to avoid reinventing the wheel. Thank you!
Hi! Does anyone have resources they can share around stormwater runoff management ordinances and mitigation plans adopted at the borough/township level? Our EAC is rewriting our M4 (as I'm sure everyone is), and we are interested in looking at ways in which we can go beyond the bare minimum requirements. Any sample ordinances that your municipality used or sample comprehensive plans you've adopted would be welcome. We are trying to avoid reinventing the wheel. Thank you!
Quote from Carol Grayshaw on December 4, 2023, 2:33 pmSeeking Low-Cost/Free Source for Rain Barrels (Warminster Township)
Warminster Township is seeking rain barrels for the township to assist with sustainability efforts. Please reach out to Brandon Yett, Projects Coordinator ([email protected]) if you have information to share on potential sources for free or low-cost barrels. Thank you in advance.
Seeking Low-Cost/Free Source for Rain Barrels (Warminster Township)
Warminster Township is seeking rain barrels for the township to assist with sustainability efforts. Please reach out to Brandon Yett, Projects Coordinator ([email protected]) if you have information to share on potential sources for free or low-cost barrels. Thank you in advance.
Quote from Carol Grayshaw on April 12, 2024, 12:26 pmHow Rain Gardens Can Reduce Flooding and Water Use Around Your Property
By Lisa Blazure, for Stroud Water Research Center
Have you ever donned rain gear, stood outside your house during a heavy rainstorm, and watched how the water flowed across your property? For most people, the answer is likely not. But doing so can be enlightening if you’re concerned about your local streams and want to learn how your property can reduce local flooding and save on water use.
Most homes use gutters, downspouts, and grading to efficiently transport water away from buildings. In suburban and urban areas, this water is often collected in the stormwater system and eventually discharged into local streams. As a result, small streams can flood more frequently and may be degraded by the flush of pollutants transported in the water...READ FULL ARTICLE.
More information:
- For rain garden instructions and tips, check out EPA’s “Soak Up the Rain” page.
- Downspout planters are another way to reduce rainwater runoff. Learn more about them from Penn State Extension.
How Rain Gardens Can Reduce Flooding and Water Use Around Your Property
By Lisa Blazure, for Stroud Water Research Center
Have you ever donned rain gear, stood outside your house during a heavy rainstorm, and watched how the water flowed across your property? For most people, the answer is likely not. But doing so can be enlightening if you’re concerned about your local streams and want to learn how your property can reduce local flooding and save on water use.
Most homes use gutters, downspouts, and grading to efficiently transport water away from buildings. In suburban and urban areas, this water is often collected in the stormwater system and eventually discharged into local streams. As a result, small streams can flood more frequently and may be degraded by the flush of pollutants transported in the water...READ FULL ARTICLE.
More information:
- For rain garden instructions and tips, check out EPA’s “Soak Up the Rain” page.
- Downspout planters are another way to reduce rainwater runoff. Learn more about them from Penn State Extension.
Quote from Carol Grayshaw on May 3, 2024, 10:58 amThe Water Center at Penn Statement on Newly Finalized National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for Six PFAS
April 12, 2024
On Wednesday, April 10th, the US EPA finalized the much-anticipated National Primary Drinking Water Regulation Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) in drinking water. This regulation has been a long time coming and has been promulgated to protect our communities against the adverse impacts of PFAS exposure, including cancers, reproductive complications, diabetes, asthma, and neurobehavioral issues. It has been almost three decades since the EPA last regulated a pollutant of concern, which underscores the importance of their action earlier this week. Water Center Director Howard Neukrug states that “this single regulation will likely significantly impact water rates throughout the US and the growing national and local concern over the affordability of water to many low-income households.” As a technical assistance provider for communities across the United States, the Water Center is keenly aware of the need for community support in this massive undertaking. To better understand the potential impacts of PFAS on communities and water systems across the nation, the Water Center has been conducting research on communication best practices and financial implications of PFAS contamination to assess how public health concerns regarding PFAS/PFOA are conveyed and how accurately these communications are messaged to the public. "Communities and water systems don't have the capacity and budgets to respond to this magnitude of a communications, engineering, and financial challenge - they're going to need funding and other forms of help," said Brianne Callahan, Senior Research Manager at the Water Center. The Water Center is committed to further research and technical assistance in the wake of these significant changes to better promote equity for vulnerable communities and water systems at all scales.
The Water Center at Penn Statement on Newly Finalized National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for Six PFAS
April 12, 2024
On Wednesday, April 10th, the US EPA finalized the much-anticipated National Primary Drinking Water Regulation Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) in drinking water. This regulation has been a long time coming and has been promulgated to protect our communities against the adverse impacts of PFAS exposure, including cancers, reproductive complications, diabetes, asthma, and neurobehavioral issues. It has been almost three decades since the EPA last regulated a pollutant of concern, which underscores the importance of their action earlier this week. Water Center Director Howard Neukrug states that “this single regulation will likely significantly impact water rates throughout the US and the growing national and local concern over the affordability of water to many low-income households.” As a technical assistance provider for communities across the United States, the Water Center is keenly aware of the need for community support in this massive undertaking. To better understand the potential impacts of PFAS on communities and water systems across the nation, the Water Center has been conducting research on communication best practices and financial implications of PFAS contamination to assess how public health concerns regarding PFAS/PFOA are conveyed and how accurately these communications are messaged to the public. "Communities and water systems don't have the capacity and budgets to respond to this magnitude of a communications, engineering, and financial challenge - they're going to need funding and other forms of help," said Brianne Callahan, Senior Research Manager at the Water Center. The Water Center is committed to further research and technical assistance in the wake of these significant changes to better promote equity for vulnerable communities and water systems at all scales.
Quote from Brad Barkdoll on December 9, 2024, 8:41 amAlert for Dangers of Road Salt Storage!
By Charlie Carl, Whitpain Township
Dear Friends of Nature and the Environment,
The account of my encounter and interest in responsible storage of road salt is below. If you are able to read and review I would greatly appreciate it
As winter and freezing weather are coming there will be a lot of preparations. We homeowners may give a glance at the snow shovel when we start tidying up the yard and garage. Facilities like shopping centers, offices, apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, and almost any complex with extensive sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots get ready on an industrial scale. Either they have contractors who are ready to plow and salt or they have a road salt supply ready for their maintenance staff. There’s something almost reassuring to see the salt being spread when the weather report talks of freezing rain and/or snow.
I took a lot of this for granted until one day in the end of February 2024. There was no snow or cold in the weather forecast. Rather there was an alarming warning of extreme rain and flooding. By chance I was driving by a facility that I was familiar with, since I had worked there years earlier. I saw a large white mound of road salt sitting uncovered, with a downpour on the way. Another partial dump truck load was uncovered nearby. This parking lot was close to a stream. Over the years the stream had flooded many times, often inflicting damage on the building. Even if this weather event wasn’t extreme, I could imagine the impact of these large storage piles being inundated by rain and washing into the nearby watershed and creek. I contacted Wissahickon Trails and had a good discussion. I then called the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to report the situation. A few days later I noticed that the piles were mostly covered with blue tarps. How much salt washed from underneath the piles I don’t know, but a white trail of salt deposits suggested that this had occurred.
As I researched the effects of road salt, I saw that there are many negative effects on the environment - water quality, soil, and animal and plant life. Water quality affects public health because of saline levels. The corrosive effects of road salt are well known, not only on cars and trucks, but on the roads, bridges and infrastructure as it interacts with metals and concrete. Some efforts are being made to reduce the quantity of salt, by using a brine solution or other de-icing chemicals. Some environmental advocacy groups addressed the effects of salt on water quality, but the responsible storage of these salt piles was rarely a focus.
Once I saw the first pile of road salt, I started noticing it again and again. On my drives to visit friends or run errands I began to notice more mounds. I was intrigued by the various states of storage. Some were covered in tarps, or had tarps mostly blown off. For some, streaks of salt brine had washed from the piles across the parking lot towards the woods or storm drain. Before long I had spotted a total of five sites. I again reported each one to the PA DEP. I was pleased to see that one facility built a roof over their storage area. This was what some storage guidelines suggested for proper management and storage of road salt materials. This protects not only the environment but also the materials from loss and degradation. PennDOT recommends: Clean up stockpile facilities after the storm to prevent chloride contamination of soils and waterways.
Now as we get ready for winter again and I have done some more research and consulted with environmental advocates, I understand that these salt storage piles may remain in a grey area. There is no enforcement unless they are determined to be contaminating waterways. My questions are: Who will offer information and guidelines to contractors who work with the salt or property management that stores the salt? Who will be on the lookout for these salt storage piles and have concern for their effect on the watershed and environment? I will try to reach various levels of governmental contacts and advocacy groups that work with water quality and the environment. If you wish to help further awareness of the circumstances of road salt storage, your thoughts and energy are most welcome.
Please note the resources listed below. I have also attached some photos of the five storage piles that alerted me to this threat to the environment.
Charlie Karl 11/17/2024
Below are some resources regarding water quality and road salt:
An interesting overview from Villanova University: https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1363&context=elj
PennDot’s tech sheet advice: https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_PDF_FILES/Documents/LTAP/Techsheets/techSheet168-color.pdf
The Salt Storage Handbook appears to be a major resource for management. It includes recommendations for site placement regarding runoff and containment of contaminants, as well as covering the pile. https://www.nwpa.us/uploads/1/2/9/8/129889926/salt-institute-salt-storage-handbook.pdf
The EPA’s info sheet on the toxic and corrosive effects of road salt. There may be more info at the EPA site.
https://www.epa.gov/snep/winter-coming-and-it-tons-salt-our-roads
The Grid’s article focusing on road salt’s effects on local water quality.
https://gridphilly.com/blog-home/2020/3/1/winter-salt-watch/
Delaware Riverkeeper Network: https://delawareriverkeeper.org/about-us/who-we-are/
PA DEP, Pennsylvania Department of environmental Protection: For information and/or to report an incident or complaint. https://www.dep.pa.gov/About/ReportanIncident/Pages/EnvironmentalComplaints.aspx
Isaac Walton League has a Salt Watch Program for communities:
Wissahickon Trails is concerned with the environment along the Wissahickon Creek and watershed: [email protected]
Alert for Dangers of Road Salt Storage!
By Charlie Carl, Whitpain Township
Dear Friends of Nature and the Environment,
The account of my encounter and interest in responsible storage of road salt is below. If you are able to read and review I would greatly appreciate it
As winter and freezing weather are coming there will be a lot of preparations. We homeowners may give a glance at the snow shovel when we start tidying up the yard and garage. Facilities like shopping centers, offices, apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, and almost any complex with extensive sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots get ready on an industrial scale. Either they have contractors who are ready to plow and salt or they have a road salt supply ready for their maintenance staff. There’s something almost reassuring to see the salt being spread when the weather report talks of freezing rain and/or snow.
I took a lot of this for granted until one day in the end of February 2024. There was no snow or cold in the weather forecast. Rather there was an alarming warning of extreme rain and flooding. By chance I was driving by a facility that I was familiar with, since I had worked there years earlier. I saw a large white mound of road salt sitting uncovered, with a downpour on the way. Another partial dump truck load was uncovered nearby. This parking lot was close to a stream. Over the years the stream had flooded many times, often inflicting damage on the building. Even if this weather event wasn’t extreme, I could imagine the impact of these large storage piles being inundated by rain and washing into the nearby watershed and creek. I contacted Wissahickon Trails and had a good discussion. I then called the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to report the situation. A few days later I noticed that the piles were mostly covered with blue tarps. How much salt washed from underneath the piles I don’t know, but a white trail of salt deposits suggested that this had occurred.
As I researched the effects of road salt, I saw that there are many negative effects on the environment - water quality, soil, and animal and plant life. Water quality affects public health because of saline levels. The corrosive effects of road salt are well known, not only on cars and trucks, but on the roads, bridges and infrastructure as it interacts with metals and concrete. Some efforts are being made to reduce the quantity of salt, by using a brine solution or other de-icing chemicals. Some environmental advocacy groups addressed the effects of salt on water quality, but the responsible storage of these salt piles was rarely a focus.
Once I saw the first pile of road salt, I started noticing it again and again. On my drives to visit friends or run errands I began to notice more mounds. I was intrigued by the various states of storage. Some were covered in tarps, or had tarps mostly blown off. For some, streaks of salt brine had washed from the piles across the parking lot towards the woods or storm drain. Before long I had spotted a total of five sites. I again reported each one to the PA DEP. I was pleased to see that one facility built a roof over their storage area. This was what some storage guidelines suggested for proper management and storage of road salt materials. This protects not only the environment but also the materials from loss and degradation. PennDOT recommends: Clean up stockpile facilities after the storm to prevent chloride contamination of soils and waterways.
Now as we get ready for winter again and I have done some more research and consulted with environmental advocates, I understand that these salt storage piles may remain in a grey area. There is no enforcement unless they are determined to be contaminating waterways. My questions are: Who will offer information and guidelines to contractors who work with the salt or property management that stores the salt? Who will be on the lookout for these salt storage piles and have concern for their effect on the watershed and environment? I will try to reach various levels of governmental contacts and advocacy groups that work with water quality and the environment. If you wish to help further awareness of the circumstances of road salt storage, your thoughts and energy are most welcome.
Please note the resources listed below. I have also attached some photos of the five storage piles that alerted me to this threat to the environment.
Charlie Karl 11/17/2024
Below are some resources regarding water quality and road salt:
An interesting overview from Villanova University: https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1363&context=elj
PennDot’s tech sheet advice: https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_PDF_FILES/Documents/LTAP/Techsheets/techSheet168-color.pdf
The Salt Storage Handbook appears to be a major resource for management. It includes recommendations for site placement regarding runoff and containment of contaminants, as well as covering the pile. https://www.nwpa.us/uploads/1/2/9/8/129889926/salt-institute-salt-storage-handbook.pdf
The EPA’s info sheet on the toxic and corrosive effects of road salt. There may be more info at the EPA site.
https://www.epa.gov/snep/winter-coming-and-it-tons-salt-our-roads
The Grid’s article focusing on road salt’s effects on local water quality.
https://gridphilly.com/blog-home/2020/3/1/winter-salt-watch/
Delaware Riverkeeper Network: https://delawareriverkeeper.org/about-us/who-we-are/
PA DEP, Pennsylvania Department of environmental Protection: For information and/or to report an incident or complaint. https://www.dep.pa.gov/About/ReportanIncident/Pages/EnvironmentalComplaints.aspx
Isaac Walton League has a Salt Watch Program for communities:
Wissahickon Trails is concerned with the environment along the Wissahickon Creek and watershed: [email protected]
Quote from KatieR on January 22, 2025, 10:09 amStroud water research center is organizing a Cult the Salt campaign Winter Salt Week starts Jan 27. https://stroudcenter.org/event/winter-salt-week/?utm_source=Freshwater+E-News&utm_campaign=3dd512f54b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_CUT_THE_SALT_KIT_ORDER&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-3dd512f54b-123406988
Stroud water research center is organizing a Cult the Salt campaign Winter Salt Week starts Jan 27. https://stroudcenter.org/event/winter-salt-week/?utm_source=Freshwater+E-News&utm_campaign=3dd512f54b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_CUT_THE_SALT_KIT_ORDER&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-3dd512f54b-123406988