In addition to the performance standards and
design criteria requirements of this chapter, the applicant shall
comply with the following water quality requirements of this article.
A. Requirements.
(1) For water quality and streambank erosion, the objective
is to design a water quality BMP to detain the proposed conditions
two-year, twenty-four-hour design storm to the existing conditions
one-year flow using the SCS Type II distribution. Additionally, provisions
shall be made (such as adding a small orifice at the bottom of the
outlet structure) so that the proposed conditions one-year storm takes
a minimum of 24 hours to drain from the facility from a point where
the maximum volume of water from the one-year storm is captured (i.e.,
the maximum water surface elevation is achieved in the facility).
At the same time, the objective is not to attenuate the larger storms
in "no detention" areas (District C) only. This can be accomplished
by configuration of the outlet structure not to control the larger
storms, or by a bypass or channel to divert only the two-year flood
into the basin or divert flows in excess of the two-year storm away
from the basin.
(2) Where practicable, wet basins shall be utilized for
water quality control and shall meet the requirements found in the
PA Stormwater BMP manual as revised.
(3) Release of water can begin at the start of the storm
(i.e., the invert of the water quality orifice is at the invert of
the facility). The design of the facility shall consider and minimize
the chances of clogging and sedimentation. Orifices smaller than three
inches diameter are not recommended. However, if the design professional
can provide proof that the smaller orifices are protected from clogging
by use of trash racks, etc., smaller orifices may be permitted.
B. In selecting the appropriate BMPs or combinations
thereof, the applicant shall consider the following:
(2) Permeability and infiltration rate of the site soils.
(3) Slope and depth to bedrock.
(4) Seasonal high water table.
(5) Proximity to building foundations and well heads.
(7) Land availability and configuration of the topography.
(8) Peak discharge and required volume control.
(10) Efficiency of the BMPs to mitigate potential water
quality problems.
(11) The volume of runoff that will be effectively treated.
(12) The nature of the pollutant being removed.
(13) Maintenance requirements.
(14) Creation/protection of aquatic and wildlife habitat.
C. For areas within defined special protection subwatersheds
which include exceptional value (EV) and high-quality (HQ) waters,
the temperature and quality of water and streams shall be maintained
through the use of temperature sensitive BMPs and stormwater conveyance
systems.
D. The applicant shall consider the guidelines found
in the references specified in Appendix G for constructed wetlands, where proposed.
E. Pretreatment in accordance with §
92-8L and
M shall be provided prior to infiltration.
[Amended 7-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-01]
F. Streambank restoration projects shall include the
following:
(1) No restoration or stabilization projects may be undertaken
without examining the fluvial geomorphology of stable reaches above
and below the unstable reach.
(2) Restoration project design must then consider maintenance
of stability in the adjacent stable reaches of the stream channel.
(3) An erosion and sediment control plan approved by the
Conservation District must be provided by the applicant.
(4) All applicable state and federal permits must be obtained.
G. Biology shall be incorporated into the design of all
wet basins in accordance with the West Nile Virus Guidance found in
Appendix E.
H. To accomplish the above, the applicant shall submit
original and innovative designs to the Municipal Engineer for review
and approval. Such designs may achieve the water quality objectives
through a combination of BMPs (best management practices).
I. Buffers.
(1) A project designer shall provide a standard buffer for streams, wetlands, vernal ponds and lakes in §
92-10I(2).
(a)
Where resource buffers overlap, the more restrictive
requirements shall apply.
(b)
Preexisting lots or parcels/land development plan in outer buffers. In the case of legally preexisting lots or parcels or land development plans (approved prior to the effective date of this chapter) where the usable area of a lot or parcel lies within an outer buffer area, rendering the lot or parcel unable to be developed in accordance with the allowable use per municipal zoning, the development may only be permitted by modification as provided in §
98-38 of the municipality's SALDO.
(c)
Improvements to existing structures in outer buffers. The provisions of this section do not require any changes or improvements to be made to lawfully existing structures in buffers. However, when any substantial improvement to a structure is proposed which results in a horizontal expansion of that structure, the improvement may only be permitted by modification as provided in §
98-38 of the municipality's SALDO.
(2) Standard buffers for water quality.
(a)
Wetlands and vernal ponds.
[1]
Wetland identification. Wetlands shall be identified
in accord with the 1987 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Manual for Identifying
and Delineating Wetlands, as amended, and properly flagged and surveyed
on site.
[a]
Wetlands in an artificial watercourse. Wetlands
contained within the banks of an artificial watercourse shall not
to be considered for buffer delineation purposes.
[b]
Wetlands in a natural watercourse. Where wetlands
are contained within the banks of a natural watercourse, only the
stream buffer shall apply.
[2]
Wetland and vernal pond buffer delineation.
A fifty-foot inner buffer and one-hundred-foot outer buffer, measured
perpendicular to and horizontally from the edge of the delineated
wetland or vernal pond for a total distance of 150 feet, shall be
maintained for all wetlands and vernal ponds.
[a]
Inner buffer: measured perpendicular to and
horizontally from the edge of the delineated wetland or vernal pond,
for a distance of 50 feet.
[i] Stormwater conveyance required
by the Township, buffer maintenance and restoration, the correction
of hazardous conditions, wetland crossings permitted by DEP and passive
unpaved stable trails shall be permitted. No other earth disturbance,
grading, filling, buildings, structures, new construction, or development
shall be permitted.
[ii] The area of the inner buffer altered
by activities permitted in accord with § 92-10I(2)(a)[2][a][i]
shall be minimized to the greatest extent practicable.
[b]
Outer buffer: measured perpendicular to and
horizontally from the outer edge of the inner buffer for a distance
of 100 feet.
[i] Provided no buildings are constructed,
stormwater conveyance required by the Township, buffer maintenance
and restoration, the correction of hazardous conditions, wetland crossings
permitted by DEP, parking lots constructed to existing grade, roads
constructed to existing grade, stable trails, and limited forestry
activities that do not clear cut the buffer (e.g., selective regeneration
harvest) in accord with a forestry management plan shall be permitted.
[ii] No more than 20% of the cumulative
outer buffer on the subject parcel shall be altered by the activities
permitted in accord with § 92-10I(2)(a)[2][b][i] above.
(b)
Lakes and ponds.
[1]
There is no outer buffer around lakes and ponds.
[2]
Lake and pond buffer delineation. A fifty-foot
buffer measured perpendicular to and horizontally from the edge of
any lake or pond shall be maintained.
[3]
Permitted activities/development. Stormwater
conveyance required by the Township, buffer maintenance and restoration,
the correction of hazardous conditions, lake front views, boat docks
and passive unpaved stable trails shall be permitted provided no buildings
are involved.
[4]
No more than 35% of the cumulative pond or lake buffer on the subject parcel shall be altered by the activities permitted in accord with §
92-10I(2)(b)[3] above.
(c)
Streams.
[1]
Stream buffer delineation. A fifty-foot inner
buffer and one-hundred-foot outer buffer, measured perpendicular to
and horizontally from the top-of-bank on both sides of any stream,
for a total distance of 150 feet, shall be maintained. See Figure
1 below.
Figure 1. Stream Buffer
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[a]
Inner buffer: measured perpendicular to and
horizontally from the top-of-bank of the stream for a distance of
50 feet.
[i] Stormwater conveyance required
by the Township, buffer maintenance and restoration, the correction
of hazardous conditions, stream crossings permitted by DEP, fish hatcheries,
wildlife sanctuaries and boat launch sites constructed so as not to
alter the floodplain cross-section, and passive unpaved stable trails
shall be permitted provided no buildings are constructed. No other
earth disturbance, grading, filling, buildings, structures, new construction,
or development shall be permitted.
[ii] The area of the inner buffer altered
by activities permitted in accord with § 92-10I(2)(c)[1][a][i]
shall be minimized to the greatest extent practicable.
[b]
Outer buffer: measured perpendicular to and
horizontally from the outer edge of the inner buffer for a distance
of 100 feet.
[i] Provided no buildings are constructed,
stormwater conveyance required by the Township, buffer maintenance
and restoration, the correction of hazardous conditions, agricultural
activities, plant nurseries, parking lots constructed to existing
grade, temporary fairs and carnivals, accessory uses for residential
purposes, private sportsmen's club activities, athletic facilities,
orchards, wildlife sanctuaries, boat launch sites that do not alter
the floodplain cross-section, fish hatcheries, stream crossings permitted
by DEP and passive unpaved stable trails, and limited forestry activities
that do not clear-cut the buffer (e.g. selective regeneration harvest)
in accord with a forestry management plan shall be permitted.
[ii] In areas of the outer buffer which
are not wetlands, vernal ponds or slopes of more than 15%, stormwater
management facilities which improve water quality of stormwater discharge
shall be permitted unless prohibited by other Township or state requirements.
No other earth disturbance, grading, filling, buildings, structures,
new construction, or development shall be permitted.
[iii] No more than 20% of the cumulative
outer buffer on the subject parcel shall be altered by the activities
permitted in accord with § 92-10I(2)(c)[1][b][i] above.
Maximizing the groundwater recharge capacity of the area being developed is required. Design of the infiltration/recharge stormwater management facilities shall give consideration to providing groundwater recharge to compensate for the reduction in the percolation that occurs when the ground surface is disturbed or impervious surface is created. It is recommended that roof runoff be directed to infiltration BMPs which may be designed to compensate for the runoff from parking areas. These measures are required to be consistent with §
92-2, and take advantage of utilizing any existing recharge areas.
A. Infiltration BMPs shall meet the following minimum
requirements:
(1) Maximum infiltration requirements:
(a)
Regulated activities will be required to recharge (infiltrate), where practicable, a portion of the runoff created by the development as part of an overall stormwater management plan designed for the site. The volume of runoff to be recharged shall be determined from Subsection
A(3)(a) or
(b), depending upon demonstrated site conditions.
(2) Infiltration BMPs intended to receive runoff from
developed areas shall be selected based on suitability of soils and
site conditions and shall be constructed on soils that have the following
characteristics:
(a)
A minimum depth of 24 inches between the bottom
of the BMP and the limiting zone.
(b)
An infiltration and/or percolation rate sufficient
to accept the additional stormwater load and drain completely as determined
by field tests conducted by the applicant's design professional.
(c)
The recharge facility shall be capable of completely
infiltrating the recharge volume within four days.
(d)
Pretreatment in accordance with §
92-8L and
M shall be provided prior to infiltration.
(3) The size of the recharge facility shall be based upon
the following volume criteria:
(a)
NRCS Curve Number equation.
[1]
The NRCS runoff shall be utilized to calculate
infiltration requirements (P) in inches. This equation is displayed
graphically in, and the infiltration requirement can be determined
from Figure 2 below.
For zero runoff: P = I (Infiltration) (inches)
= (200 / CN) – 2
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Eqn: 304.1
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Where: CN = SCS (NRCS) curve number of existing
conditions contributing to the recharge facility.
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[2]
The recharge volume required would therefore
be computed as:
Rev (cubic feet) = I
* impervious area (square feet) / 12
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Eqn: 304.2
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Where: I = infiltration requirements (inches)
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Figure 2. Infiltration requirement based
upon NRCS Curve Number
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(b)
Annual recharge: water budget approach. It has been determined that infiltrating 0.6 inches of runoff from the impervious areas will aid in maintaining the hydrologic regime of the watershed. Areas in the Township that fall outside of the Broadhead/McMichaels watershed will need to meet a two-year, twenty-four-hour net infiltration rate. If the goals of Subsection
A(2)(a) cannot be achieved, then 0.6 inch of rainfall shall be infiltrated from all impervious areas, up to an existing site condition curve number of 77. Above a curve number of 77, Equation 304.1 or the curve in Figure 2 should be used to determine the Infiltration requirement. The recharge volume (Re
v) required would therefore be computed as:
Rev = 0.6 or I, whichever
is less * % impervious area.
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B. Soils. A detailed soils evaluation of the project
site shall be required where practicable to determine the suitability
of recharge facilities. The evaluation shall be performed by a qualified
design professional, and at a minimum, address soil permeability,
depth to bedrock and subgrade stability. The general process for designing
the infiltration BMP shall be:
(1) Analyze hydrologic soil groups as well as natural
and man-made features within the watershed to determine general areas
of suitability for infiltration practices.
(2) Provide site-specific infiltration test results (at
the level of the proposed infiltration surface) in accord with ASTM
Guide No. D 5126 to determine the appropriate hydraulic conductivity
rate.
(3) Design the infiltration structure for the required
storm volume based on field determined capacity at the level of the
proposed infiltration surface.
(4) If on-lot infiltration structures are proposed by
the applicant's design professional, it must be demonstrated to the
municipality that the soils are conducive to infiltrate on the lots
identified.
C. Stormwater hotspots.
(1) A "stormwater hotspot" is defined as a land use activity
that generates higher concentrations of hydrocarbons, trace metals
or toxic materials than are found in typical stormwater runoff, based
on monitoring studies. The list below provides samples of designated
hotspots. If a site is designated as a hotspot, it has important implications
for how stormwater is managed. First and foremost, untreated stormwater
runoff from hotspots cannot be allowed to infiltrate into groundwater
where it may contaminate water supplies. Therefore, the Rev requirement is not applied to development sites that
fit into the hotspot category (the entire WQv must still be treated). Second, a greater level of stormwater treatment
may be needed at hotspot sites to prevent pollutant washoff after
construction. EPA's NPDES stormwater program requires some industrial
sites to prepare and implement a stormwater pollution prevention plan.
(a)
Classification of stormwater hotspots. The following
land uses and activities are samples of stormwater hotspots:
[1]
Vehicle salvage yards and recycling facilities.
[2]
Fleet storage areas (bus, truck, etc.).
[3]
Public works storage areas.
[4]
Facilities that generate or store hazardous
materials.
(2) Extreme caution shall be exercised where salt or chloride
would be a pollutant since soils do little to filter this pollutant
and it may contaminate the groundwater. The qualified design professional
shall evaluate the possibility of groundwater contamination from the
proposed infiltration/recharge facility and perform a hydrogeologic
justification study if necessary. The infiltration requirement in
high quality/exceptional value waters shall be subject to the Department's
Chapter 93 Antidegradation Regulations. The municipality may require
the installation of an impermeable liner in detention basins where
the possibility of groundwater contamination exists. A detailed hydrogeologic
investigation may be required by the municipality.
(3) The municipality shall require the applicant to provide
safeguards against groundwater contamination for uses which may cause
groundwater contamination, should there be a mishap or spill. (See
Appendix E of the complete Act 167 Study.)
D. Extreme caution shall be exercised where infiltration
is proposed in source water protection areas or that may affect a
wellhead or surface water intake.
E. Recharge/infiltration facilities shall be used in
conjunction with other innovative or traditional BMPs, stormwater
control facilities, and nonstructural stormwater management alternatives.