Stormwater Management

Introduction to Stormwater

Stormwater runoff is generated when precipitation from rainfall and snowmelt flows over top of the land because it is not able to infiltrate into the ground. Runoff can occur on land that is compacted, bare (no trees or vegetation), sloped (hills or mountains), or covered by impervious surfaces (manmade surfaces). Impervious surfaces can consist of paved streets, parking lots, building rooftops, decking, driveways, etc.  The precipitation that runs off can flow into storm drains that lead to nearby water bodies and eventually to the ocean.

Runoff can accumulate pollution such as debris, chemicals, sediment, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), oil and grease, pesticides and herbicides, or pathogens (bacteria or viruses).Stormwater runoff can also lead to erosion, flooding, and other environmental and health issues if not properly managed.

One way that stormwater runoff is managed is through the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), which prohibits the discharge of pollutants into waterways without the appropriate permits. These permits are managed under the National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). More information on Stormwater Regulations can be found on our Regulations page.

Funding is an important part of stormwater management, since there are many costs associated with municipal stormwater management. Our Grants and Funding Options page has many funding programs listed. One funding option that is becoming more popular is a stormwater fee. For more information on what a stormwater fee is, how to they are created, and what municipalities have implemented a stormwater fee in SW PA, check out our document on Developing a Stormwater Fee to Support Stormwater Management.

Explore the requirements of the PA Stormwater Management Act 167 and the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program in the pages below, along with methods to meet these requirements through stormwater best management practices (BMPs), case studies and initiatives for stormwater management, and planning for stormwater management.