In order to protect the health, safety, and general welfare
of the residents of the municipality, as well as to protect, sustain,
and enhance the surface and groundwater resources of the municipality,
drainage and stormwater management practices shall be utilized as
directed herein to achieve the following goals and objectives.
A.
Accommodate site development and redevelopment in a manner that protects
public safety and that is consistent with (or reestablishes) the natural
hydrologic characteristics of each watershed and sustains groundwater
recharge, stream base flows, stable stream channel (geomorphology)
conditions, the carrying capacity of streams and their floodplains,
groundwater and surface water quality, and aquatic living resources
and their habitats.
B.
Reduce and minimize the volume of stormwater generated.
C.
Protect natural infiltration and groundwater recharge rates in order
to sustain groundwater supplies and stream base flows.
D.
Maintain runoff characteristics of the site after completion of development
that are consistent with the carrying capacity and stable channel
conditions of the receiving streams.
E.
Protect water quality by removing and/or treating pollutants prior
to discharge to ground- and surface waters throughout the municipality,
and to protect, restore, and maintain the chemical, physical, and
biological quality of ground- and surface waters.
F.
Protect in-stream channels and geomorphology conditions of the receiving
streams, protect their flood-carrying capacity and aquatic habitats
and reduce in-stream erosion and sedimentation.
G.
Reduce flooding impacts and prevent a significant increase in surface
runoff rates and volumes, predevelopment to post-development, which
could worsen flooding downstream in the watershed, enlarge floodplains,
erode stream banks and create other flood-related health/welfare/property
losses; in general, to preserve and restore the natural flood-carrying
capacity of streams and their floodplains.
H.
Protect adjacent lands from adverse impacts of direct stormwater
discharges.
I.
Ensure effective long-term operation and maintenance of all permanent
stormwater management facilities.
J.
Maintain natural drainage patterns and encourage the use of natural
drainage systems.
K.
Treat and release stormwater as close to the source of runoff as
possible using a minimum of structures and maximizing reliance on
natural processes.
L.
Maintain the existing water balance in all watersheds, subwatersheds,
and streams in the municipality, and protect and/or restore natural
hydrologic characteristics and habitats wherever possible throughout
the watershed systems.
M.
Address certain requirements of the municipal separate storm sewer
system (MS4) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Phase II Stormwater Regulations.
N.
Reduce the impacts of runoff from existing developed sites undergoing
redevelopment while encouraging development and redevelopment in urban
areas and areas designated for growth.
O.
Meet legal water quality requirements under state law, including
regulations at 25 Pa. Code Chapter 93.4a, to protect and maintain
existing uses and maintain the level of water quality to support those
uses in all streams, and to protect and maintain water quality in
special protection streams.
P.
Provide review procedures and performance standards for stormwater
planning and management.
Q.
Prevent scour and erosion of stream banks and streambeds.
The governing body of the municipality finds that:
A.
Stormwater runoff from lands modified by human activities threatens
public health and safety by causing decreased infiltration of rainwater
and increased runoff flows and velocities, which overtax the carrying
capacity of existing streams and storm sewers, and greatly increases
the cost to the public to manage stormwater.
B.
Public education on the control of pollution from stormwater is an
essential component in successfully addressing stormwater.
C.
Nonstormwater discharges to municipal separate storm sewer systems
can contribute to pollution of waters of the commonwealth.
D.
Inadequate management of accelerated runoff of stormwater resulting
from development throughout a watershed increases flows and velocities,
contributes to erosion and sedimentation, overtaxes the carrying capacity
of streams and storm sewers, greatly increases the cost of public
facilities to carry and control stormwater, undermines floodplain
management and flood control efforts in downstream communities, reduces
groundwater recharge, threatens public health and safety, and increases
nonpoint source pollution of water resources.
E.
A comprehensive program of stormwater management, including reasonable
regulation of development and activities causing accelerated runoff,
is fundamental to the public health, safety, and welfare and the protection
of people of the commonwealth, their resources, and the environment.
F.
Stormwater is an important water resource, which provides groundwater
recharge for water supplies and base flow of streams, which also protects
and maintains surface water quality.
G.
Federal and state regulations require certain municipalities to obtain
a permit for stormwater discharges from their separate storm sewer
systems under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES). Permittees are required to enact, implement, and enforce
a prohibition of nonstormwater discharges to the permittee's
regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s).
