MS4 Program
Reducing the Negative Impacts of Stormwater Runoff
The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program is a federal mandate to implement a stormwater management program to reduce pollution and other negative impacts from stormwater runoff.
In 2003, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency issued Whitehall Borough an MS4 permit. Part of the requirements tied to the permit are six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs).
Public Education & Outreach
Educate the public on stormwater pollution and prevention.
Public Involvement and Participation
Promote public-participation environmental events.
Illicit Discharge, Detection and Elimination
Develop, implement, and enforce a program to detect and eliminate stormwater pollution.
Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
Reduce stormwater pollution from construction sites within the municipality.
Post-Construction Stormwater Management
Encourage activities such as low impact development, a post-construction runoff ordinance, and operation and maintenance of stormwater best management practices.
Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping
Educate and train municipal staff to prevent and reduce stormwater pollution from municipal buildings and operations.
THE RESIDENT’S ROLE IN MS4
Just knowing that you play a key role in stormwater management is one step in helping Whitehall continue to meet its regulatory goals. You can do the following to help mitigate the effects of stormwater runoff pollution:
- Read the Homeowners Guide to Stormwater BMP Maintenance
- Report illicit discharge, pollution and dangerous litter to the Borough Administration Offices or WaterReporter.
- Participate in ALCOSAN’s Pups Pledge program
Minimize Stormwater Runoff from the Start
Non-Structural Best Practices
Non-structural best practices are various ways that prevent stormwater from becoming a destructive problem in the first place.
Structural Best Practices
Structural best practices are professionally engineered solutions that use both natural systems (e.g. soil and vegetation) and manufactured systems (e.g. water quality filters) to prevent stormwater runoff damage.