A. 
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meaning indicated below.
B. 
Words used in the singular include the plural, and words in plural include the singular. The word "building" shall be construed as if followed by the words "or a part thereof." The words "may" and "should" are permissive; the words "shall," "must" and "will" are mandatory.
C. 
Words used in the present tense include the future tense; words of masculine gender include feminine gender; and words of feminine gender include masculine gender.
D. 
The word "includes" or "including" shall not limit the term to the specific example but is intended to extend its meaning to all other instances of like kind and character.
E. 
The word "person" includes an individual, firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, company, corporation, unit of government, or any other similar entity.
F. 
The words "used" or "occupied" include the words "intended, designed, maintained, or arranged to be used, occupied or maintained."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY
Activities associated with agriculture, such as agricultural cultivation, agricultural operation, and animal heavy-use areas. This includes the work of producing crops, including tillage, land clearing, plowing, disking, harrowing, planting, harvesting crops or pasturing and raising of livestock and installation of conservation measures. Construction of new buildings or impervious area is not considered an agricultural activity.
ALTERATION
As applied to land, a change in topography as a result of the moving of soil and rock from one location or position to another; also the changing of surface conditions by causing the surface to be more or less impervious as the result of changing the land cover, including the water, vegetation and bare soil.
APPLICANT
A landowner, as herein defined, or agent of the landowner, who has filed an application for a stormwater management permit or an application to engage in a regulated activity.
AS-BUILT DRAWINGS
Engineering or site drawings maintained by the contractor as he constructs the project and upon which he documents the actual locations of the building components and changes to the original contract documents. These documents, or a copy of same, are to be submitted to the Borough for review and approval at the completion of the project.
BANKFULL
The channel at the top-of-bank, or point from where water begins to overflow onto a floodplain.
BASE FLOW
The portion of stream discharge derived from groundwater; the sustained discharge that does not result from direct runoff or from water diversions, reservoir releases, piped discharges, or other human activities.
BIORETENTION
A stormwater retention area that utilizes woody and herbaceous plants and soils to remove pollutants before infiltration occurs.
BMPS (BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES)
Activities, facilities, designs, measures or procedures used to manage stormwater impacts from regulated activities, to meet state water quality requirements, to promote groundwater recharge and to otherwise meet the purposes of this chapter. Stormwater BMPs are commonly grouped into one of two broad categories or measures: structural or nonstructural. In this chapter, "nonstructural BMPs or measures" refer to operational and/or behavior-related practices that attempt to minimize the contact of pollutants with stormwater runoff, whereas "structural BMPs or measures" are those that consist of a physical device or practice that is installed to capture and treat stormwater runoff. Structural BMPs include but are not limited to a wide variety of practices and devices, from large-scale retention ponds and constructed wetlands to small-scale underground treatment systems, infiltration facilities, filter strips, low-impact design, bioretention, wet ponds, permeable paving, grassed swales, riparian or forested buffers, sand filters, detention basins, and manufactured devices. Structural stormwater BMPs are permanent appurtenances to the project site.
BUFFER
The area of land immediately adjacent to any stream, measured perpendicular to and horizontally from the top-of-bank on both sides of a stream.
BUILDING
Any structure, either temporary or permanent, having walls and a roof, designed or used for the shelter of any person, animal or property, and occupying more than 100 square feet of area.
CHANNEL
An open drainage feature through which stormwater flows. Channels include but shall not be limited to natural and man-made watercourses, swales, streams, ditches, canals, and pipes that convey continuously or periodically flowing water.
CISTERN
An underground reservoir or tank for storing rainwater.
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
The Bucks County Conservation District.
CONVEYANCE
A stormwater management facility designed to transmit stormwater runoff, which shall include streams, channels, swales, pipes, conduits, culverts, storm sewers, etc.
CULVERT
A pipe, conduit or similar structure, including appurtenant works, that carries surface water.
CURVE NUMBER
A value used in the Soil-Cover-Complex Method. It is a measure of the percentage of precipitation that is expected to run off from the watershed and is a function of the soil, vegetative cover, and tillage method.
DAM
A man-made barrier, together with its appurtenant works, constructed for the purpose of impounding or storing water or another fluid or semifluid. A dam may include a refuse bank, fill or structure for highway, railroad or other purposes that impounds or may impound water or another fluid or semifluid.
DEDICATION
The deliberate devotion of property by its owner for general public use.
DEP or DEPARTMENT
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
DESIGNEE
The agent of the Bucks County Conservation District and/or agent of the Borough of Chalfont charged with the administration, review, or enforcement of any provisions of this chapter by contract or memorandum of understanding.
DESIGN STORM
The magnitude and temporal distribution of precipitation from a storm event, measured in probability of occurrence (e.g., a five-year storm) and duration (e.g., 24 hours), used in the design and evaluation of stormwater management systems.
DETENTION BASIN
An impoundment designed to collect and retard stormwater runoff by temporarily storing the runoff and releasing it at a predetermined rate. Detention basins are designed to drain completely soon after a rainfall event and become dry until the next rainfall event.
DEVELOPER
A person, partnership, association, corporation or other entity, or any responsible person therein or agent thereof, that undertakes any regulated activity of this chapter.
DEVELOPMENT
Any human-induced change to improved or unimproved real estate, whether public or private, including but not limited to land development, construction, installation, or expansion of a building or other structure, land division, street construction, drilling, and site alteration such as embankments, dredging, grubbing, grading, paving, parking or storage facilities, excavation, filling, stockpiling, or clearing. As used in this chapter, "development" encompasses both new development and redevelopment.
DEVELOPMENT SITE
The specific tract of land for which a regulated activity is proposed.
DISCHARGE
A. 
(verb) To release water from a project, site, aquifer, drainage basin or other point of interest.
B. 
(noun) The rate and volume of flow of water, such as in a stream, generally expressed in cubic feet per second. See also "peak discharge."
DISCHARGE POINT
The point of discharge for a stormwater facility.
DISCONNECTED IMPERVIOUS AREA (DIA)
An impervious or impermeable surface that is disconnected from any stormwater drainage or conveyance system and is redirected or directed to a pervious area, which allows for infiltration, filtration, and increased time of concentration as specified in Appendix IX, Disconnected Impervious Area.[1]
DISTURBED AREAS
Unstabilized land area where an earth-disturbance activity is occurring or has occurred.
DITCH
A man-made waterway constructed for irrigation or stormwater conveyance purposes.
DRAINAGE EASEMENT
A right, granted by a landowner to a grantee, allowing the use of private land for stormwater management purposes.
EARTH-DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY
A construction or other human activity which disturbs the surface of the land, including but not limited to clearing and grubbing, grading, excavations, embankments, land development, agricultural plowing or tilling, timber harvesting activities, mineral extraction, and the moving, depositing, stockpiling or storing of soil, rock or earth materials.
EMERGENCY SPILLWAY
A conveyance area that is used to pass peak discharge greater than the maximum design storm controlled by the stormwater facility.
ENCROACHMENT
A structure or activity that changes, expands or diminishes the course, current or cross section of a watercourse, floodway or body of water.
EROSION
The removal of soil particles by the action of water, wind, ice or other geological agents.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN
A plan for a project site, which identifies BMPs to minimize erosion and sedimentation.
EXCEPTIONAL-VALUE WATERS (EV)
Surface waters of high quality which satisfy Pennsylvania Code Title 25, Environmental Protection, Chapter 93, Water Quality Standards, § 93.4b(b) (relating to antidegradation).
EXISTING CONDITIONS
The initial condition of a project site prior to the proposed construction.
EXISTING RECHARGE AREA
Undisturbed surface area or depression where stormwater collects and a portion of which infiltrates and replenishes the groundwater.
EXISTING RESOURCE AND SITE ANALYSIS MAP
A base map which identifies fundamental environmental site information, including floodplains, wetlands, topography, vegetative site features, natural areas, prime agricultural land and areas supportive of endangered species.
FLOOD
A temporary inundation of the floodplain outside the floodway.
FLOODPLAIN
A relatively flat or low land area which is subject to partial or complete inundation from an adjoining or nearby stream, river or watercourse and/or any area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation of surface waters from any source.
FLOODWAY
The designated area of a floodplain required to carry and discharge floodwaters of a given magnitude.
FOREST MANAGEMENT/TIMBER OPERATIONS
Planning and associated activities necessary for the management of forestland. These include timber inventory and preparation of forest management plans, silvicultural treatment, cutting budgets, logging road design and construction, timber harvesting, and reforestation.
FREEBOARD
A vertical distance between the elevation of the design high water and the top of a dam, levee, tank, basin or diversion swale. The space is required as a safety margin in a pond or basin.
GOVERNING BODY
Elected municipal officials of the Borough of Chalfont.
GRADE
A slope, usually of a road, channel or natural ground, specified in percent and shown on plans as specified herein.
A. 
TO) GRADE To finish the surface of a roadbed, top of embankment, or bottom of excavation.
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
Replenishment of existing natural underground water supplies.
HEC-HMS
The United States Army Corps of Engineers, Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) - Hydrologic Modeling System (HMS). This model was used to model the Neshaminy Creek watershed during the Act 167[2] Plan development and was the basis for the standards and criteria of this chapter.
HIGH-QUALITY WATERS (HQ)
Surface waters having quality which exceeds levels necessary to support propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water by satisfying Pennsylvania Code Title 25, Environmental Protection, Chapter 93, Water Quality Standards, § 93.4b(a).
HOTSPOT
An area where land use or activity generates highly contaminated runoff, with concentrations of pollutants in excess of those typically found in stormwater. Typical pollutant loadings in stormwater may be found in Chapter 8, Section 6, of the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) No. 363-0300-002 (2006).
HYDROGRAPH
A graph representing the discharge of water versus time for a selected point in the drainage system.
HYDROLOGIC REGIME
The hydrologic cycle or balance that sustains quality and quantity of stormwater, base flow, storage and groundwater supplies under natural conditions.
HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUP
A classification of soils by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, formerly the Soil Conservation Service, into four runoff potential groups. The groups range from A soils, which are very permeable and produce little runoff, to D soils, which are not very permeable and produce much more runoff.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface that prevents the percolation of water into the ground, excluding the water surface of swimming pools. Impervious surfaces include but are not limited to streets, sidewalks, pavement, roofs, parking areas, or driveway areas. Any of these surface areas designed to be gravel or crushed stone shall be regarded as impervious surfaces. In addition, other areas determined by the Borough Engineer to be impervious within the meaning of this definition will also be classified as impervious.
[Amended 5-9-2022 by Ord. No. 466]
IMPOUNDMENT
A retention or detention basin designed to retain stormwater runoff and release it at a controlled rate.
INFILTRATION
Movement of surface water into the soil, where it is absorbed by plant roots, evaporated into the atmosphere, or percolated downward to recharge groundwater.
INFILTRATION STRUCTURES
A structure designed to direct runoff into the ground (e.g., french drains, seepage pits, seepage trenches).
INITIAL ABSTRACTION (IA)
The value used to calculate the volume or peak rate of runoff in the Soil-Cover-Complex Method. It represents the depth of rain retained on vegetation plus the depth of rain stored on the soil surface plus the depth of rain infiltrated prior to the start of runoff.
INLET
The upstream end of any structure through which water may flow.
INTERMITTENT STREAM
A stream that flows only part of the time. Flow generally occurs for several weeks or months in response to seasonal precipitation or groundwater discharge.
KARST
A type of topography or landscape characterized by surface depressions, sinkholes, rock pinnacles/uneven bedrock surface, underground drainage, and caves. Karst is formed on carbonate rocks, such as limestone or dolomite.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any of the following activities:
A. 
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(1) 
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential building on a lot or lots, regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or
(2) 
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of, streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
B. 
A subdivision of land.
C. 
Development in accordance with Article V, Section 503(1.1), of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act of 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, as reenacted and amended.[3]
LOT
A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed or built upon as a unit.
LOW-IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID) PRACTICES
Practices that will minimize proposed conditions' runoff rates and volumes, which will minimize needs for artificial conveyance and storage facilities.
MANNING EQUATION (MANNING FORMULA)
A method for calculation of velocity of flow (e.g., feet per second) and flow rate (e.g., cubic feet per second) in open channels based upon channel shape, roughness, depth of flow and slope. Open channels may include closed conduits so long as the flow is not under pressure.
MUNICIPAL ENGINEER
A registered professional engineer licensed as such in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, duly appointed as the engineer for the Borough of Chalfont.
MUNICIPALITY
The Borough of Chalfont, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION
Pollution that enters a water body from diffuse origins in the watershed and does not result from discernible, confined, or discrete conveyances.
NONSTORMWATER DISCHARGES
Water flowing in stormwater collection facilities, such as pipes or swales, which is not the result of a rainfall event or snowmelt.
NPDES
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System; the federal government's system for issuance of permits under the Clean Water Act,[4] which is delegated to DEP in Pennsylvania.
NRCS
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (previously "SCS").
OPEN CHANNEL
A drainage element in which stormwater flows with an open surface. Open channels include but shall not be limited to natural and man-made drainageways, swales, streams, ditches, canals, and pipes flowing partly full.
OUTFALL
"Point source," as described in 40 CFR 122.2, at the point where the municipality's storm sewer system discharges to surface waters of the commonwealth.
OUTLET
Points of water disposal from a stream, river, lake, tidewater or artificial drain.
PADEP or PA DEP
See "DEP."
PEAK DISCHARGE
The maximum rate of flow of storm runoff at a given point and time resulting from a specified storm event.
PERENNIAL STREAM
A stream that contains water at all times except during extreme drought.
PERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface that allows the infiltration of water into the ground.
PIPE
A culvert, closed conduit, or similar structure (including appurtenances) that conveys stormwater.
PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission of the Borough of Chalfont.
POINT SOURCE
Any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel or conduit from which stormwater is or may be discharged, as defined in state regulations at 25 Pa. Code § 92.a2.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
POST-CONSTRUCTION
The period after construction during which disturbed areas are stabilized, stormwater controls are in place and functioning, and all proposed improvements in the approved land development plan are completed.
PREDEVELOPMENT
See "existing conditions."
PRETREATMENT
Techniques employed in stormwater BMPs to provide storage or filtering to trap coarse materials and other pollutants before they enter the system but not necessarily designed to meet the volume requirements of this chapter.
PROJECT SITE
The specific area of land where any regulated activities in the municipality are planned, conducted or maintained.
QUALIFIED DESIGN PROFESSIONAL
Any person licensed by the State of Pennsylvania or otherwise qualified by law to perform the work required by this chapter.
RATIONAL METHOD
A method of computing the peak rate of runoff at any location in a watershed as a function of the drainage area, runoff coefficient, and mean rainfall intensity for a duration equal to the time of concentration.
RECHARGE
The replenishment of groundwater through the infiltration of rainfall, other surface waters, or land application of water or treated wastewater.
REDEVELOPMENT
Any development that requires demolition or removal of existing structures or impervious surfaces at a site and replacement with new impervious surfaces. Maintenance activities, such as milling/removal of pavement and repaving, are not considered to be redevelopment. Interior remodeling projects and tenant improvements are also not considered to be redevelopment. Utility trenches in streets are not considered redevelopment.
REGULATED ACTIVITIES
Any earth-disturbance activities or any activities that involve the alteration or development of land in a manner that may affect stormwater runoff.
RELEASE RATE
The post-development peak rate of runoff for a development site that must be controlled to protect downstream areas.
RETENTION BASIN
A basin designed to retain stormwater runoff so that a permanent pool is established.
RETENTION VOLUME/REMOVED RUNOFF
The volume of runoff that is captured and not released directly into the surface waters of the commonwealth during or after a storm event.
RETURN PERIOD
The probability that an event will occur in any given year; typically displays as a whole number, e.g., twenty-five-year event, and represents the inverse of the frequency of that event.
RISER
A vertical pipe extending from the bottom of a pond that is used to control the discharge rate from the pond for a specified design storm.
ROOF DRAIN
A drainage conduit or pipe that collects water runoff from a roof and leads it away from the structure.
RUNOFF
The part of precipitation that flows over the land.
SALDO
The Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[5]
SCS
Formerly the Soil Conservation Service, now the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), United States Department of Agriculture.
SEDIMENT
Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported or has been moved from its site of origin by water.
SEDIMENTATION BASIN
A barrier, dam, or retention or detention basin to retain sediment.
SEEPAGE PIT/SEEPAGE TRENCH
An area of excavated earth filled with loose stone or similar material and into which water is directed for infiltration into the ground.
SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM
A conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, Borough streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels or storm drains) primarily used for collecting and conveying stormwater runoff.
SHALLOW CONCENTRATED FLOW
Stormwater runoff flowing in rills and swales of a shallow depth prior to entering a defined channel or waterway.
SHEET FLOW
Runoff that flows over the ground surface as a broad, shallow water movement, not concentrated in a channel.
SOIL-COVER-COMPLEX METHOD
A method of runoff computation, developed by NRCS, which is based upon relating soil type and land use/cover to a runoff parameter called a "curve number."
STATE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
As defined under state regulations, protection of designated and existing uses. (See 25 Pa. Code Chapters 93 and 96.)
STORM SEWER
A system of pipes or other conduits which carries intercepted surface runoff, street water and other waters or drainage but excludes domestic sewage and industrial waste.
STORMWATER
The surface runoff generated by precipitation reaching the ground surface.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ACT 167 PLAN
The plan for managing stormwater runoff adopted by Bucks County for the Neshaminy Creek watershed as required by the Act of October 4, 1978, (P.L. No. 864) (Act 167), and known as the "Storm Water Management Act."
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Abbreviated as "BMPs" or "SWM BMPs" throughout this chapter. (See "BMPs.")
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY
Any structure, natural or man-made, that, due to its condition, design or construction, conveys, stores or otherwise affects stormwater runoff. Typical stormwater management facilities include but are not limited to detention and retention basins, open channels, storm sewers, pipes and infiltration structures.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PERMIT
A permit issued by the municipality after the SWM site plan has been approved.
STORMWATER SITE PLAN (SWM SITE PLAN)
The plan prepared by the applicant or his representative indicating how stormwater runoff will be managed at the particular site of interest according to this chapter.
STREAM
A watercourse.
STREAM BUFFER
The land area adjacent to each side of a stream, essential to maintaining water quality. (See "buffer.")
SUBAREA
The smallest unit of watershed breakdown for hydrologic modeling purposes for which the runoff control criteria have been established in the Neshaminy Creek Watershed Stormwater Management Act 167 Plan.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or lot development.
SURFACE WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Any and all rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments, ditches, watercourses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, wetlands, ponds, springs, and all other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface water, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial, within or on the boundaries of this commonwealth.
SWALE
A low-lying stretch of land that gathers or carries surface water runoff.
TIME OF CONCENTRATION (TC)
The time for surface runoff to travel from the hydraulically most-distant point of the watershed to a point of interest within the watershed. This time is the combined total of overland flow time, concentrate flow time and flow time in pipes or channels, if any.
TOP-OF-BANK
The highest point of elevation in a stream channel cross section at which a rising water level just begins to flow out of the channel and over the floodplain.
VEGETATED SWALE
A natural or man-made waterway, usually broad and shallow, covered with erosion-resistant grasses, used to convey surface water.
VERNAL POOL
Seasonal depressional wetlands that are covered by shallow water for variable periods from winter to spring but may be completely dry for most of the summer and fall.
WATERCOURSE
Any channel or conveyance of surface water having a defined bed and banks, whether natural or artificial, with perennial or intermittent flow.
WATERSHED
The region or area drained by a river, watercourse or other body of water, whether natural or artificial.
WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Any and all rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, ditches, watercourses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, wetlands, ponds, springs, and all other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface and underground water, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial, within or on the boundaries of the commonwealth.
[1]
Editor's Note: The stormwater management ordinance's appendixes are on file in the Borough offices.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 680.1 et seq.
[3]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10503.
[4]
Editor's Note: See 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.
[5]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 370, Subdivision and Land Development.