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Stormwater & Floodplains

Lower Salford Township Stormwater Projects

Alderfer Road and Park Avenue Stormwater Basins Retrofit 

The Township completed the retrofit of these stormwater basins in 2023 to reduce the amount of sediment and excess nutrients entering the West Branch of the Skippack Creek.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PROJECT INFORMATION

Free Stormwater Webinars for Residents

This is a great opportunity to learn about rain barrels, planting a rain garden as well as plants and watersheds. Please see the attached flyer for more information and to sign-up!! AND IT'S FREE!!

Township Illicit Discharge Detection

Please call the Township if you witness an illicit discharge to or from the Township's storm sewer system: 215-256-8087. If you choose, you may also contact DEP Directly at the Illicit Discharge Detection Hotline: 484-250-5900.

Stormwater Management Information

Township Stormwater Regulations

Stormwater Seasonal Tips

Stormwater PA Videos

Stormwater Basins and Rain Gardens

What Can Your Business Do To Help?

You Can Help to Promote Stormwater Management Efforts

Stormwater is water from precipitation that flows across the ground and pavement when it rains or when snow and ice melt. The water seeps into the ground or drains into what are commonly called storm sewers. These are the drains you see at street corners or at low points on the sides of streets. Collectively, the draining water is called stormwater runoff.

Lower Salford Township, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), is currently taking steps to prevent stormwater pollution through a Federally mandated program that seeks better stormwater management. The Township adopted a Stormwater Management Ordinance on March 2, 2005. It identifies illegal discharges into stormwater systems and provides penalties for violations.

Listed below are some ways that you can help prevent stormwater pollution:

  • Properly dispose of hazardous substances such as oil, cleaning supplies and paint. Never pour them into the storm sewer system.
  • Properly and efficiently use pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides to prevent excess amounts into runoff
  • Pick up after pets and dispose of their wastes in the toilet or in the Dogipot Pet Stations when using the community path.
  • Wash your car on grass or gravel instead of on the street or in the driveway. Or better yet, take your car to the carwash where the water is treated and recycled.
  • Report signs of soils and other pollutants, such as debris and chemicals that you see in stormwater runoff or tracked into the roads
  • Install innovative stormwater practices on your property, such as rain barrels or rain gardens
  • Report any discharges from stormwater outfalls during dry weather-a sign that there could be a problem with the stormwater system
  • Store materials that could pollute stormwaters indoors and use containers for outdoor storage that do not rust or leak.
  • Sweep up driveways, sidewalks and gutters
  • Never dump anything down storm drains or in streams
  • Vegetate bare spots in your yard
  • Compost your yard waste
  • Use least toxic pesticides, follow labels, and learn how to prevent pest problems
  • Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces; consider a rain garden to capture rainwater
  • Check your car for leaks and recycle your motor oil
  • Have your septic tank pumped and inspected regularly
  • Reuse and recycle paint and paint thinner or take it to a local hazardous waste collection location
  • Keep all litter off the street and place it in receptacles so that it does not get washed or blown down storm drains
  • Service your car regularly to prevent gasoline, oil, brake and transmission fluids, and antifreeze from leaking onto the pavement and washing into our streams
  • Recycle product containers made of glass, plastic and aluminum
  • Use absorbent materials like kitty litter or toweling to soak up any spills, then sweep up and dispose of these items properly - never dilute spills with water
  • Blog about it! View the Perkiomen Rain Gardens blogspot

As an active participant in the 5-year NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) program, Lower Salford Township is taking many steps to reduce stormwater pollution:

  • Assists the Montgomery County Conservation District in monitoring the proper installation and effectiveness of silt fence in filtering soil and other debris from stormwater leaving construction sites.
  • Minimizes run-off from topsoil stockpiles and excavated areas by monitoring straw, mulch or hydroseed ground covers for such areas.
  • Prevents pollution of stormwater by being environmental stewards in the operation and maintenance of municipal vehicles and maintenance and inspections of stormwater facilities.
  • Use of well designed drainage swales, which allow absorption of water for plants and soil and creation of buffers/no-mow zones along watercourses throughout the Township. An award-winning riparian buffer, for example, has been created at the Ted Dannerth Park near the Stormfield development.
  • Mapping all stormwater discharge points from stormwater system outfalls and monitoring such outfalls for discharges during dry weather which could signal a failure within the system
  • Initiate and develop an identification marker system at roads and curbs adjacent to our stormwater inlets. This is to increase public awareness that stormwater systems feed our creeks, streams, ponds and lakes and need to be free of debris, oil and other pollutants. Interested in helping out? Contact the Township Office at: 215-256-8087 or email: township@lowersalfordtownship.org

Development of public information initiatives

Delaware Estuary Regional Storm Drain Marking Project

Volunteers needed to help keep our waterways clean

Most stormwater flows into storm drains (also called sewer inlets) in the street, many of which empty directly into local creeks that eventually make their way to the Delaware River. Polluted stormwater harms these waterways, which we rely on for drinking water and recreation. You can help make our waterways safer for drinking, fishing and swimming by keeping pollutants and trash out of the storm drains. The drain markers are an important step in making residents aware of the stormwater runoff pollution problem. All marking supplies are provided by the Township. Contact Holly Hosterman at: 215-256-8087 for more details.

Rain Barrels & Rain Gardens

Rain Barrel is not unlimited on our earth and concerned people are starting to ask what can be done about it. Being able to capture rainwater on your own property for future use in your garden was the topic discussed by Kristina Henderson (picture left), from the Montgomery County Conservation District. Kristina explained about stormwater best management practices (BMP’s) for the homeowner and followed up with a rain barrel demonstration. Another way you can help reduce stormwater pollution is to build a rain garden in your own backyard. You can capture rainwater from your roof and driveway and divert it into a beautiful rain garden, where it can slowly soak into the ground. Mimicking the natural absorption and pollutant removal abilities of a forest or meadow, rain gardens can absorb runoff more efficiently that a standard lawn.

Get more information about rain gardens at: www.raingardennetwork.com.

More Information on Stormwater and the NPDES