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If you smell gas, smell oil, or see an oil spill that threatens our waterways call 911.
Pennsylvania's NPDES storm water program establishes permitting requirements for construction sites disturbing more than one acre, industrial sites, and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). Upper Dublin Township has an MS4 permit and is required to implement a stormwater management program (SWMP) consisting of six Minimum Control Measures.
Minimum Control Measures
Water Permitting
The Board of Commissioners adopted revisions to the Stormwater Management Section of the Subdivision and Land Development Regulations.
On September 14, 2004, the Upper Dublin Township Board of Commissioners adopted revisions to the Township's Stormwater Management Regulations. The revisions were necessary to bring the regulations into conformance with current MS4 program requirements. A copy of Ordinances 1138, 1139, 1140, 1141, and 1142, amending the Stormwater Management Regulations contained in the Zoning Chapter 255, in the Subdivision and Land Development Chapter 212, in the Watercourses Chapter 240, in the Stormwater Management Chapter 206 and miscellaneous Chapters of the Code of Ordinances of Upper Dublin Township, may be viewed by clicking on the links below. Also below are links to the original ordinances for Stormwater Management.
Township ordinances relating to Stormwater Management can also be viewed by visiting the Township codes online, section 206 (type 206 or stormwater in the "Search Ordinances for Phrase" box).
Visit the Documents & Forms page for the ordinances relating to Stormwater Management.
Aidenn Lair Park Stormwater Basin Retrofit Project
Upper Dublin Township, with funding and support from the Wissahickon Watershed Partnership, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Philadelphia Water Department, the Schuylkill River Heritage Program and the Delaware River Basin Commission, is undertaking this project to improve the function of the two stormwater management basins at Aidenn Lair Park. Download the information flyer for this project.
Any earth movement activity requires an Upper Dublin Township (UDT) grading permit.
Documents & Forms DEP Erosion Fact Sheet
Documents & Forms UDT Grading Permit Application
Documents & Forms UDT Highway Opening Permit Application (HOP)
Construction Industry Information
The construction industry has a key role to play in storm water management. As storm water flows over a construction site, it can pick up pollutants such as sediment, debris, and chemicals. Uncontrolled erosion has a significant financial impact on a construction project. It costs time and money to repair gullies, replace vegetation, clean sediment clogged storm drains, and mitigate damage to other people’s property.
Protect Natural Features By:
Where possible sequence construction activities so that the soil is not exposed for long periods of time. Schedule site stabilization activities such as landscaping to be completed as quickly as possible after the land has been graded to the final contour.
Silt Fencing
Construction Entrances
Installing and maintaining pollution prevention techniques on site can reduce the potential for storm water pollution and help protect our nation’s water supply.
Visit the PA DEP Stormwater Management web site for stormwater management related construction permit applications and other information. Other important links are listed at the bottom of this web page.
Visit the Documents & Forms page for Stormwater guides and fact sheets for businesses, construction and homeowners.
Stormville: Four Problem Behaviors
Courtesy of Chittenden County Vermont Regional Stormwater Education Program.
Water Cycle Interactive Video provided by the EPA.
Thirstin's Water Question and Answer Game provided by the EPA.
Thirstin's Water Word Scramble Game provided by the EPA.
Thirstin's Water Fun Facts Match Game provided by the EPA.
Student, Teacher, Scout Links
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has also provided several informational posters that demonstrate the impacts of various common activities that many people practice without realizing how those activities may have an adverse effect on our water system. Larger versions of these posters may be downloaded here (these are large files and may take a long time to download):
| Car Wash Poster | Fertilizer Poster | Oil Slick Poster | Pet Waste Poster |
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced a 9-minute on-line video, “Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In” that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff.
This information was adapted from "Backyard Stewardship, Our Environment Begins With Your Yard," a pamphlet produced by the Virginia Department of Forestry and the City of Virginia Beach and by the NRCS, Connecticut.
What you do in and with your yard can end up outside your yard, in your neighbor’s yard, in the storm drain or stream, and eventually in the ocean. If you multiply what you do in your yard by the number of people on your street, in your town, or in your state, your yard starts to look like everybody’s business. The environment really does begin with your yard!
A clean, well-maintained yard looks good. Those who pass by may comment on how beautiful your yard looks, how the neighborhood seems like a great place to live, and how the property values are enhanced by appearances. Those around you are proud to have you as a neighbor. The plants in your yard and your neighbor’s yard, in the woods down the street, in the public park next door, all give off oxygen to help us breathe. They keep the air fresh and clean. Also, plants help to cool the environment by providing shade. Ground covers and other plants hold your soil in place. The soil doesn’t wash away, doesn’t flow into your neighbor’s yard, doesn’t clog storm drains and streams, and doesn’t carry along pesticides and nutrients that pollute the water. Your yard can be home to many birds, butterflies, and animals that are interesting to observe and can help control pests.
Learn About Erosion and Sediment Control
Soil erosion is the process by which rainfall and moving surface water dislodge and carry soil particles, organic matter, and plant nutrients with them. Erosion around a home not only causes damage to your property and nearby roads, but also affects water quality in ponds, lakes, or streams. Muddy water flowing in your driveway, ditch, or onto the road following a rain indicates that erosion is occurring.
Sedimentation is the depositing of soil from muddy water. The eroded soil stops someplace as sediment- filling ditches, streams, lakes, and shipping channels at considerable cost to taxpayers. The best way to reduce sedimentation is to control erosion by using vegetative cover, or applying stone, straw, and fabric filters to trap soil particles. In larger flows, water is held in temporary storage basins until most of the soil settles out of the water. Here are some things you can do:
Keep the soil covered. Bare soil is the primary cause of erosion. Plant grass or other vegetation to protect the soil from the impact of raindrops and to hold the soil in place. Mulch bare areas with straw, grass clippings, stones, wood chips, and other protective cover. Vegetated and mulched areas increase soil infiltration, reducing erosive runoff water.
Control concentrated flow. Watch the flow of runoff water during storms. Areas of concentrated flow on slopes should be protected by keeping the channel in grass on gentle slopes and lining the channel with stones or pavement on steeper slopes. Building terraces across the slope will help to divert water away from slopes. Use splash blocks at gutter outlets.
Select plants that grow well in the local areas and are suitable for the climate conditions in your yard, such as shaded or sunny areas and wet or dry soil. Plant ground covers in shaded areas where grass is difficult to establish and maintain.
Rain Garden, A how-to manual for homeowners by University of WisconsinLearn How to Control Storm Water
You have a direct link from your property to nearby lakes and streams. The path of water running off sidewalks and driveways goes through street gutters and storm sewers into a nearby stream, lake, or wetland. The muddy water runoff joins with other runoff, and at times results in damaging floods further downstream.
By-products of our everyday life, such as motor oil, antifreeze, road salt, soil, pet waste, fertilizers, and pesticides can get into water and affect its quality. Keeping storm water runoff clean reduces the pollutants that enter the public water supply. Here are some things you can do:
Learn How to Care for Your Lawn
Maintaining a green lawn requires care and time. Concern for the environment has led many people to turn to more environmentally safe lawn care practices. Using organic fertilizers can help reduce the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium reaching local streams. Organic fertilizers contain the same basic plant nutrients as chemicals, but they take longer to dissolve and will stay in the soil longer. Here are some things you can do:
Learn to Control Insects with Plants
Some plants naturally repel insects. These plants have their own chemical defense systems. Planting them among desired flowers and vegetables help keep unwanted insects away. Following is a partial list of nature’s alternatives to pesticides:
| Pest | Plant Repellent |
|---|---|
| Ants | mint, tansy, pennyroyal |
| Aphids | mint, garlic, chives, coriander, anise |
| Bean Leaf Beetle | potato, onion, turnip |
| Codling Moth | common oleander |
| Colorado Potato Bug | green beans, coriander, nasturtium |
| Cucumber Beetle | radish, tansy |
| Flea Beetle | garlic, onion, mint |
| Imported Cabbage Worm | mint, sage, rosemary, hyssop |
| Japanese Beetle | garlic, larkspur, tansy, rue, geranium |
| Leaf Hopper | geranium, petunia |
| Mexican Bean Beetle | potato, onion, garlic, radish, petunia, marigold |
| Mice | onion |
| Root Knot | French marigolds Nematodes |
| Slugs | prostrate rosemary, wormwood |
| Spider Mites | onion, garlic, cloves, chives |
| Squash Bug | radish, marigolds, tansy, nasturtium |
| Squash Vine Borer | cloves, onion, garlic |
| Stink Bug | radish |
| Thrips | marigolds |
| Tomato Hornworm | marigold, sage, borage |
| Whitefly | marigold, nasturtium |
Learn to Help Wildlife, and They Will Help You in Return
Songbirds and other wildlife add much to the joy of urban, suburban, and country living. Birds help reduce the insects that attack your flowers, gardens, lawns, and shrubs.
Shrubs, trees, vines, and other plants offer a natural way to attract birds and wildlife to your home site.
Wildlife likes diversity. Edges, the borders between open grass, trees, and shrubs, are the favorite habitat for wildlife. Flowering shrubs, grasses, and other plants provide berries and seeds for the birds. Taller and dense growth offers protection to birds and small animals against predators. Plant a rich intermingling of species, size, and shapes of plants.
Develop a plan for your yard. Wildlife need three things: food, water, and shelter. Along with your personal ideas, consider soil, slope, drainage, exposure, and climate. Added benefits occur where plantings provide beauty, shade, soil stabilization, and runoff control.
Flowering shrubs that attract birds and wildlife include:
Gardens enhance the environment and the quality of your life by providing beauty, fresh vegetables, and recreation. By following safe environmental practices, you can grow fresh, healthy food while satisfying yourself with a rewarding summer hobby. Here are some things you can do:
Things You Can Do on Larger Lots
Things You Can Do on Small Lots, Patios, and Balconies
Thank you to the Virginia Department of Forestry, the City of Virginia Beach and the NRCS, Connecticut for the above "Backyard Information."
Report an Environmental Incident Link
Construction Related Links
Homeowner Related Links
General Links
Watershed Organizations
1999-2009, Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania. All rights reserved.
The Township of Upper Dublin
801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034
Phone: (215) 643-1600 Fax: (215) 542-0797
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The Township of Upper Dublin
801 Loch Alsh Avenue
Fort Washington, PA 19034
Phone: (215) 643-1600
Fax: (215) 542-0797
Seated left to right:
Jules J. Mermelstein-Ward 5
Robert J. Pesavento(Pres.)-Ward 1
Ira S. Tackel(VP)-Ward 4
Standing left to right:
Sharon L. Damsker-Ward 2
Chester H. Derr, III-Ward 3
Ronald P. Feldman-Ward 6
Stanley J. Ropski-Ward 7