Township of Palmer, PA Article VIII Prohibitions

§ 158-36 Prohibited discharges; exceptions.

A. No person in the municipality shall allow or cause to allow stormwater discharges into the municipality's separate storm sewer system which are not composed entirely of stormwater except as provided in Subsection B below or as allowed under a state or federal permit.

B. Discharges that may be allowed based on the municipality finding that the discharge(s) do not significantly contribute pollution to surface waters of the commonwealth are listed below.

(1) Discharges from fire-fighting activities.

(2) Potable water sources, including dechlorinated water line and fire hydrant flushings.

(3) Irrigation drainage.

(4) Routine external building washdown which does not use detergents or other compounds.

(5) Air-conditioning condensate.

(6) Water from individual residential car washing.

(7) Springs.

(8) Water from crawl space pumps.

(9) Uncontaminated water from foundation or footing drains.

(10) Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands.

(11) Lawn watering.

(12) Pavement washwaters where spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous materials have not occurred (unless all spill material has been removed) and where detergents are not used.

(13) Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges.

(14) Uncontaminated groundwater.

C. In the event that the municipality determines that any of the discharges identified in § 158-36B significantly contribute to pollution of waters of the commonwealth or is so notified by DEP, the municipality will notify the responsible person to cease the discharge.

D. Upon notice provided by the municipality under § 158-36C, the discharger will have a reasonable time, as determined by the municipality, to cease the discharge consistent with the degree of pollution caused by the discharge.

E. Nothing in this section shall affect a discharger's responsibilities under state law.

§ 158-37 Prohibited connections.

The following connections are prohibited, except as provided in § 158-36B above:

A. Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, which allows any nonstormwater discharge including sewage, process wastewater and wash water to enter the separate storm sewer system and any connections to the storm drain system from indoor drains and sinks.

B. Any drain or conveyance connected from a commercial or industrial land use to the separate storm sewer system which has not been documented in plans, maps or equivalent records and approved by the municipality.

§ 158-38 Roof drains.

A. Roof drains shall not be connected to streets, sanitary or storm sewers or roadside ditches, except as provided in § 158-38B.

B. When it is more advantageous to connect directly to streets or storm sewers, connections of roof drains to streets or storm sewers may be permitted by the municipality.

C. Roof drains shall discharge to infiltration areas or vegetative BMPs to the maximum extent practicable.

§ 158-39 Alteration of BMPs.

A. No person shall modify, remove, fill, landscape or alter any existing stormwater BMP without the written approval of the municipality unless it is part of an approved maintenance program. A note which indicates these requirements shall be included on the plan(s) to be recorded.

B. No person shall place any structure, fill, landscaping or vegetation into a stormwater BMP or within a drainage easement which would limit or alter the functioning of the BMP without the written approval of the municipality.