Stormwater

Stormwater Hotlines

Erosion and Sediment Control Hotline: 717-840-7430
If the stormwater is “cloudy” or “dirty” and originated from an area of active earth disturbance, you will receive the quickest response by calling the York County Conservation District at 717-840-7430. The District investigates all erosion and sediment control concerns for the Township. Please provide your name, address, telephone number where you can be contacted, and the specific location of the origin of the sediment laden runoff.

Illicit Discharge Hotline: 717-741-3861
New stormwater regulations from Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) requires York Township to investigate potential illicit discharges into our streams as well as other events adversely affecting water quality.

If you notice any of the following, immediately notify the Township by calling our Illicit Discharge Hotline and/or call 911;

- Dumping, spills, or other illicit (illegal) discharge into storm sewers or streams

- Sediment leaving a construction site during a rain event (See Erosion and Sediment Control Hotline)

- Observed pollution event or pollutants entering a stream

- Dry weather flows from outfall pipes into streams (a dry weather flow is water observed flowing out of a pipe when there hasn’t been any rainfall for a period of 72 hours or more)

- Fish Kills

- Water Main break

Stormwater Management Hotline: 717-741-3861
If the stormwater is “clear” and originated from stable areas where active earth disturbance is not occurring, you will receive the quickest response by calling York Township at 717-741-3861. Please provide your name, address, telephone number where you can be contacted, and the specific location of the origin of the stormwater runoff. Depending upon your description, the Department of Public Works or the Engineering Department will investigate your concern. If the runoff originates from an area of active earth disturbance, the Township will refer it to the York County Conservation District at 717-840-7430.

Engineering Department

For more stormwater information see the Engineering Department

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit (PAG-13) for Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)

Township Seeks to Comply with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit (PAG-13) for Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)

York Township is the owner of a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) that discharges to surface waters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Therefore, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA-DEP) requires that the Township obtain and comply with the requirements of a NPDES General Permit (PAG-13).

In September, the Township submitted an MS4 Annual Report which outlined the Township’s efforts to comply with the NPDES PAG-13 requirements from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. To comply, the Township followed the PA-DEP’s 6 Minimum Control Measure (MCM) protocols which included: Public Education and Outreach on Stormwater Impacts, Public Involvement/Participation, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control, Post-Construction Storm Water Management in New Development and Redevelopment, and Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations.

To see the report select: Current MS4 Annual Report

Throughout the coming reporting year, the Township will continue to follow PA-DEP MCM protocols. One such effort will be that Township staff will continue to inspect publicly and privately owned stormwater best management practices (BMPs) within the Township. Township staff will always have photo identification with them while performing inspections.

On August 25, 2017, the Township submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) for renewed coverage under PAG-13, and on December 16, 2020, it was approved by the PA-DEP and the Township received its 2018-2023 permit.

In an effort to fulfill the Township’s pollutant reduction requirements, York Township joined a coalition of municipalities known as the York County Stormwater Consortium (YCSWC). The YCSWC worked together to develop and submit a York County Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan (YCCBPRP) which was also approved by the PA-DEP on December 16, 2020. The YCCBPRP must include BMPs that will reduce pollutant loads to the Bay, as well as a schedule for their implementation.

To see the 2018-2023 York County Regional Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan, click here.

To see York Township’s Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement for the Implementation of the York County Regional Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan, click here.

The Township encourages your participation in events to improve stormwater management, stream protection, and water quality.

Stormwater and Floodplain Management Fact Sheets

After the Storm – Environmental Protection Agency 2006 – EPA 841-C-06-001 – After the Storm: Co-Produced by the U.S. EPA and The Weather Channel. The show highlights three case studies—Santa Monica Bay, the Mississippi River Basin/Gulf of Mexico, and New York City—where polluted runoff threatens watersheds highly valued for recreation, commercial fisheries and navigation, and drinking water. Key scientists and water quality experts, and citizens involved in local and national watershed protection efforts provide insight into the problems as well as solutions to today’s water quality challenges. After the Storm also explains simple things people can do to protect their local watershed-such as picking up after one’s dog, recycling household hazardous wastes, and conserving water. The program is intended for educational and communication purposes in classrooms, conferences, etc. View After the Storm Video on YouTube.

Floodplain Management Is Good For Your Budget- PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — As the spring flooding season approaches, the Region III office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reminds everyone to include a key ingredient in their household’s flood safety plan—flood insurance. Flooding is the costliest disaster in the United States. Common flooding misconceptions, oversights and myths can lead to (or compound) disaster. View additional Floodplain Management Information.

Lawn Fertilizers, Herbicides, & Pesticides – Fertilizers applied at the wrong times or at excessive rates are washed off lawns by rainstorms, carried by storm flows along streets and through stormwater pipes, discharged into streams, and find their way into the Chesapeake Bay. In the Bay, those fertilizers promote algae growth, depleting oxygen, killing fish, crabs, and other aquatic life. For more information, select the following link: Lawns & Fertilizers

Low Impact Design (LID) Brings Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Curbside – Select the following link for information on Low Impact Development (LID) Brings Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Curbside. Call the Engineering Office at the Township administration office for additional information regarding LID’s. Link: Low-Impact Design Curbside

On-Lot Septic Systems & Their Operation & Maintenance- A presentation of “This OLDS House” was made for homeowners with on-lot sanitary sewage systems. This program was presented by the York County Conservation District, Penn State, and Young’s Sanitary Septic Services. As a follow-up to this presentation, please see the following link for program information: Septic Systems
Pervious Pavement: A different way to manage stormwater –Pennsylvania’s stormwater management regulations and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program changed how we are required to manage stormwater. The attached article introduces Pervious Pavement as one type of a stormwater management facility (Best Management Practice, BMP) that one may see being installed. Link: Pervious Pavement
Rain Gardens: A different way to manage stormwater – Pennsylvania’s stormwater management regulations and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program changed how we are required to manage stormwater. The attached article introduces Rain Gardens as one type of a stormwater management facility (Best Management Practice, BMP) that one may see being installed. Link: Rain Gardens
Restaurants & Food Services: Good Cleaning & Water Quality Practices – Clean streams are important to York Township. Food wastes, fats, greases, and oils from restaurants and food service facilities can cause sanitary sewer line blockages that may result in sewage overflows into your restaurant or food service facility. Also, food wastes, fats, greases, and oils that are poured or hosed onto paved areas and streets or into gutters or storm drains pollute our streams. Link: Restaurants Food Services – Good Cleaning WQ Practices
US EPA Hazardous Materials Storage – Please see the following link for information on EPA’s Hazardous Materials Storage facts: EPA Hazardous Materials Storage.
US EPA Materials Management – Please see the following link for information on EPA’s Material Management facts: EPA Materials Management.
US EPA Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff – In urban and suburban areas, much of the land surface is covered by buildings and pavement which do not allow rain and snowmelt to soak into the ground. Instead, most developed areas rely on storm drains to carry large amounts of runoff from roofs and paved areas to nearby waterways. Stormwater runoff carries pollutants such as oil, dirt, chemicals, and lawn fertilizers directly to streams and rivers where they seriously harm water quality. Please see the following link for information on Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff.

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Details and Notes

Links to detailed BMP information can be viewed on the Engineering Department page.