By KATHRYN PIFF TOWNSEND

Special to The Press

The Environmental Advisory Council of Albany Township hosted Assistant Director of the Berks County Planning Commission Ashley Showers on Sept. 24.

She discussed the ever-increasing problem of stormwater in the community.

“This area is particularly important because the water here runs directly downstream through the Schuylkill River watershed which is the drinking water supply for the city of Philadelphia,” Showers said.

EAC member Dale Derr explained why the presentation was needed.

“We were inspired to host this presentation because of last year’s flooding,” Derr said.

“Both the Ontelaunee Creek and the Maiden Creek regularly flood with storms and yearly thaw.

“We have been planning this meeting since last February or March.”

Tom Kerr, another EAC member, discussed why the meeting was held at this time.

“We’ve seen what has happened with the solar arrays that caused problematic storm runoff in Richmond Township, near Weavers Hardware,” Kerr said. “We wanted to get ahead of this issue.”

Showers discussed the Department of Environmental Protection administration of the MS4, or, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit program.

Although Albany Township does not have the population density to participate in such a program at this time, there are valuable lessons that can be learned by both government officials and residents.

“Currently, stormwater is not regulated in Albany Township via the MS4 permit program,” Showers said.

“However, land development and increasing severe rain events all have the potential to create concerns regarding the increase in stormwater and water quality.

Showers stressed the importance of municipalities being proactive.

“Municipalities should have the foresight that when land development projects come in for review with the municipality, maintenance agreements and associated fees are attached to the requirements of the land development plan for stormwater facilities, allowing the municipality the ability to address infrastructure failures long after the development is complete,” she explained.

Other key parts of MS4 permit program include education of both government officials and residents, protocols for where to report environmental hazards such as spilled chemicals, and good housekeeping practices for municipal employees to ensure fuel and other chemicals are responsibly stored and mitigated where possible.

“MS4 regulated municipalities should consider where their free-standing fueling stations are located and install small berms around them to deter a fuel spill from entering any storm drains that eventually will drain to a water body,” Showers said.

In addition, she recommends mowing close to streams should be eliminated to allow natural vegetation to grow which will allow stormwater to slow down and infiltrate, removing chemicals it may be carrying and prevent additional erosion along the stream bank.

As part of her presentation, Showers shared some educational resources about managing stormwater.

•Berks County MS4 Steering Committee at youtube.com/@berksms4/videos

·Schuylkill River Action Network at schuylkillwaters.org

•Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program at extension.psu.edu/programs/watershed-stewards

•PA Clean Water Academy at pacleanwateracademy.remote-learner.net