Be a leader and meet the stormwater greening challenge.
As municipalities across Pennsylvania adopt more stringent stormwater regulations, businesses, institutions and other large private landowners should take advantage of new opportunities to play their part in stormwater management.
Some communities are under MS4 requirements — MS4s have storm conveyance systems that are not connected to a local wastewater system or treatment plant. MS4 communities may look to private landowners to help them implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) on private property. Some municipalities are adopting new stormwater fees that include credit programs for implementing desired BMPs.
The Center for Water Quality Excellence (CWQE) can help large-parcel landowners better understand their connection with local stormwater programs. Property owners within the CWQE pilot area of Lancaster and York counties can request personal assistance, at no cost, relating to how they might take advantage of using BMPs to reduce a stormwater fee, BMP selection, and operation and maintenance of stormwater BMPs. Center staff can facilitate ways in which property owners can work collaboratively with local government.
If retained and managed on-site, stormwater can contribute to water quality and supply and enhance the aesthetics of a property. It’s an investment that brings multiple benefits to your commercial enterprise, school campus or corporate or business park — and to your community as a whole.
CWQE also offers an online library of stormwater resources, available to the general public, that answers common questions, case studies, and quality resources related to stormwater management.
Visit the CWQE Support Hub or call CWQE at 855-227-1202 for more information.
CWQE will operate through December 31, 2023. To ensure that we can provide adequate guidance for your project, we will be accepting new assistance requests through October 31, 2023.
At Carroll Village, a senior housing and retail development in York County, three rain gardens receive runoff from parking lots and rooftops; overflow is channeled to a large wet pond for final treatment and infiltration.
When used on private property, green infrastructure — stormwater management techniques like tree plantings, rain gardens, and permeable pavement — can provide a range of benefits to commercial property owners.
Benefits include
- Reduced water bills – cisterns and rain barrels provide water for irrigation
- Less flooding – dispersed bioswales and raingardens manage runoff
- Potential credits to reduce stormwater fees, if applicable
- Lower energy costs – trees reduce a building’s energy demand for heating and cooling by providing shade in the summer and wind blocks in the winter
- Site beautification has been proven to reduce crime, increase rental rates, and improve employee or resident satisfaction