What is Stormwater?
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events and snow/ice melt. Stormwater can soak into the soil (infiltrate), be held on the surface and evaporate, or runoff and end up in nearby streams, rivers, or other water bodies (surface water).
In natural landscapes such as forests, the soil absorbs much of the stormwater and plants help hold stormwater close to where it falls. In developed environments, unmanaged stormwater can create two major issues: one related to the volume and timing of runoff water (flooding) and the other related to potential contaminants that the water is carrying (water pollution).
Stormwater is also a resource and important as the world’s human population demand exceeds the availability of readily available water.
Visit this link for additional information Stormwater – Wikipedia.
All new impervious areas (porches, patios, structures, driveways, etc. including stone parking areas) are required to infiltrate the rainfall from the 2 year storm on the project property. For smaller areas, our Engineer has created the Small Projects Guide.
Projects that propose between 1 and 2,000 square feet of new impervious area can use this guide to provide the required infiltration on your lot. If you have questions about how the facilities are constructed and/or maintained, please contact the Zoning Officer at 717-244-6813 or MLove@LowerWindsor.com
All projects over 2,000 square feet of new impervious area are required to have engineering review and approval before permits are issued. A design professional may need to prepare a stormwater site plan. The Township Engineer will review the plan, and those fees will be passed on to the applicant.
To see the Ordinance, search “Stormwater Management Ordinance” on our Ordinances page.
Lower Windsor Township and the York County Conservation District have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for review and enforcement of erosion and sediment control measures.
If you think you have observed an erosion or sediment problem from any construction site, please call the York County Conservation District at 717-840-7430.
The District will investigate these issues for the Township and enforce the regulations as applicable.
If you have any other type of stormwater problem or concern, please call the Township Office at 717-244-6813 to have it investigated.
You will be required to provide your name, address, telephone number where you can be contacted, along with the specific location and description of the problem.
Links
- EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency
(Polluted Runoff: Nonpoint Source Pollution)
https://www.epa.gov/polluted-runoff-nonpoint-source-pollution - EPA (Learning & Teaching about the Environment https://www.epa.gov/students
- Water Environment Federation www.wef.org
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: cbf.org
- Chesapeake Stormwater Network http://chesapeakestormwater.net
- Lower Susquehanna River Keeper http://www.lowersusquehannariverkeeper.org
- Stormwater PA http://www.stormwaterpa.org
- York County Conservation District http://www.yorkccd.org
- Pet Waste and the Chesapeake Bay
Downloads
Educational Materials
MS4 Report
Our Annual MS4 report is available for review at the Township Office or for download. (100M – 363 pages)