The Township of Hampton finds that:
A. 
Inadequate management of accelerated runoff of stormwater resulting from development throughout a watershed increases flows and velocities, contributes to erosion and sedimentation, overtaxes the carrying capacity of streams and storm sewers, greatly increases the cost of public facilities to carry and control stormwater, undermines floodplain management and flood control efforts in downstream communities, reduces groundwater recharge, threatens public health and safety, and increases nonpoint source pollution of water resources.
B. 
A comprehensive program of stormwater management, including reasonable regulation of development and activities causing accelerated runoff, is fundamental to the public health, safety, and welfare and the protection of people of the commonwealth, their resources, and the environment.
C. 
Stormwater is an important water resource, which provides groundwater recharge for water supplies and base flow of streams, which also protects and maintains surface water quality.
D. 
Federal and state regulations require certain municipalities to implement a program of stormwater controls. These municipalities are required to obtain a permit for stormwater discharges from their separate storm sewer systems under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
In order to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the Township of Hampton, as well as to protect, sustain, and enhance the surface and groundwater resources of the Township, drainage and stormwater management practices shall be utilized as directed herein to achieve the following goals and objectives:
A. 
Accommodate site development and redevelopment in a manner that protects public safety and that is consistent with (or reestablishes) the natural hydrologic characteristics of each watershed and sustains groundwater recharge, stream baseflows, stable stream channel (geomorphology) conditions, the carrying capacity of streams and their floodplains, groundwater and surface water quality, and aquatic living resources and their habitats.
B. 
Reduce and minimize the volume of stormwater generated.
C. 
Protect natural infiltration and groundwater recharge rates in order to sustain groundwater supplies and stream baseflows.
D. 
Maintain runoff characteristics of the site after completion of development that are consistent with the carrying capacity and stable channel conditions of the receiving streams.
E. 
Protect water quality by removing and/or treating pollutants prior to discharge to ground- and surface waters throughout the Township, and to protect, restore, and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological quality of ground- and surface waters.
F. 
Protect in-stream channels and geomorphologic conditions of the receiving streams; protect against scour, aggradation, and degradation; protect their flood-carrying capacity and aquatic habitats and to reduce in-stream erosion and sedimentation.
G. 
Prevent scour and erosion of stream banks and streambeds.
H. 
Reduce flooding impacts and prevent a significant increase in surface runoff rates and volumes, predevelopment to post-development, which could worsen flooding downstream in the watershed, enlarge floodplains, erode stream banks and create other flood-related health-welfare-property losses; in general, to preserve and restore the natural flood-carrying capacity of streams and their floodplains.
I. 
Protect adjacent lands from adverse impacts of direct stormwater discharges.
J. 
Ensure effective long-term operation and maintenance of all permanent stormwater management facilities.
K. 
Maintain natural drainage patterns and encourage the use of natural drainage systems.
L. 
Treat and release stormwater as close to the source of runoff as possible using a minimum of structures and maximizing reliance on natural processes.
M. 
Maintain the existing water balance in all watersheds, sub-watersheds, and streams in the Township, and protect and/or restore natural hydrologic characteristics and habitats wherever possible throughout the watershed systems.
N. 
Address certain requirements of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II Stormwater Regulations.
O. 
Reduce the impacts of runoff from existing developed sites undergoing redevelopment while encouraging development and redevelopment in urban areas and areas designated for growth.
P. 
Meet legal water quality requirements under state law, including regulations at 25 Pa. Code Chapter 93.4a to protect and maintain "existing uses" and maintain the level of water quality to support those uses in all streams, and to protect and maintain water quality in "special protection" streams.