Stormwater Management
Antis Township plays an important role in storm water management. The Township is responsible for educating the public about storm water management, identifying illicit discharges and eliminating it, controlling construction site runoff, post construction runoff control, and preventing or reducing pollutant runoff from municipal operations. Storm water management is a major consideration required by the Antis Township subdivision and Land Development Ordinances. Antis Township has a Storm Water Management Program that was initiated when the current Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance was enacted in the year of 2006.
At the June 2, 2016 Board of Supervisors Meeting the Board adopted ordinance 1-2016 approving the creation of the Intergovernmental Stormwater Committee. Antis Township will join ten (10) other Blair County governments creating a Council of Governments to help each other handle increasingly strict environmental regulations on stormwater.
Think About It! When rain comes down or the snow melts, where does it go? It trickles down roof tops, across lawns, through the streets, and into storm drains and streams. Along the way, that stormwater picks up chemicals, dirt, and debris, which can contaminate our water supply and delicate aquatic environments. Help protect your water by reducing stormwater contamination. To learn more please visit our Clean Blair Water Website.
Ways to Prevent Stormwater Pollution
- Properly dispose of hazardous substances, such as used motor oil, cleaning supplies, and paint. Never pour them down any part of the storm sewer system. Report anyone who does.
- Use pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides properly and efficiently to prevent excess runoff.
- Look for signs of soil and other pollutants, such as debris and chemicals, leaving construction sites in stormwater runoff or tracked into roads by construction vehicles. Report poorly managed construction sites that could impact stormwater runoff to the township.
- Install innovative stormwater systems on residential properties, such as rain barrels or rain gardens that capture stormwater and keep it on-site instead of letting it drain away into the storm sewer system. Report any discharge from stormwater outfalls during times of dry weather—a sign that there could be a problem with the storm sewer system.
- Pick up after pets and dispose of their waste properly. No matter where pets make a mess—in a backyard, on open space, or a sidewalk—stormwater runoff can carry pet waste from the land to the storm sewer system to a stream. Keep potentially-polluting materials indoors. To eliminate exposure of materials to stormwater, use outdoor storage containers that do not rust or leak.
Illicit Discharges
An illicit discharge is any discharge to the storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of stormwater. A few exceptions to this rule include: firefighting activities, landscape irrigation, foundation drains, and water from crawl space pumps.
Sources of illicit discharge include but are not limited to:
- Sanitary wastewater
- Failing septic systems
- Improper oil disposal
- Radiator flushing disposal
- Spills from roadway accidents
- Improper disposal of toxics
- Improper use of pesticides and herbicides
Illicit discharges enter the system either through direct connections (deliberate pipe hookups to the storm drain system) or indirect connections (spills collected by drain outlets, or deliberate dumping down the storm drain). These illicit discharges drain directly to the creeks and streams and may be loaded with large amounts of harmful and toxic substances. If you notice illicit discharges, please report them to the township at 814-742-7361.