Township of Easttown, PA Article VIII Prohibitions

§ 388-39 Prohibited discharges.

A. Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, that allows any nonstormwater discharge, including sewage, process wastewater, and wash water, to enter the Township's separate storm sewer system, riparian buffers, wetlands, or other waters of the commonwealth is prohibited.

[Amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14; 10-17-2022 by Ord. No. 452-22]

B. No person shall allow, or cause to allow, discharges into the Township's separate storm sewer system or the waters of the commonwealth that are not composed entirely of stormwater, except:

[Amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]

(1) As provided in Subsection C below; and

(2) Discharges allowed under a state or federal permit.

C. The following discharges are authorized unless they are determined by the Township to be significant contributors to pollution to the Township's separate storm sewer system or to the waters of the commonwealth:

[Amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]

(1) Discharges from firefighting activities;

(2) Potable water sources, including waterline and fire hydrant flushings, if such discharges to not contain detectable concentrations of total residual chlorine (TRC);

[Amended 10-17-2022 by Ord. No. 452-22]

(3) Noncontaminated irrigation drainage water;

[Amended 10-17-2022 by Ord. No. 452-22]

(4) Noncontaminated HVAC condensation and water from geothermal systems;

[Amended 10-17-2022 by Ord. No. 452-22]

(5) Springs;

(6) Water from crawl space pumps;

(7) Pavement wash waters where spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous materials have not occurred (unless all spill material has been removed) and where detergents are not used;

(8) Diverted stream flows;

(9) Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands;

(10) Uncontaminated water from foundations or from footing drains;

(11) Lawn watering;

(12) (Reserved)[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(12), listing dechlorinated swimming pool discharges, was repealed 10-17-2022 by Ord. No. 452-22.

(13) Uncontaminated groundwater;

(14) Residential (i.e., not commercial) vehicle wash water where cleaning agents are not utilized;

[Amended 10-17-2022 by Ord. No. 452-22]

(15) Routine external building washdown (which does not use detergents or other compounds); and

(16) Noncontaminated hydrostatic test water discharges, if such discharges do not contain detectable concentrations of TRC.

[Added 10-17-2022 by Ord. No. 452-22]

D. In the event that the Township determines that any of the discharges identified in Subsection C significantly contribute pollutants to the Township's separate storm sewer system or to the waters of the commonwealth, or is notified of such significant contribution of pollution by PADEP, the Township will notify the responsible person to cease the discharge.

[Amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]

E. Upon notice provided by the Township under Subsection D, the discharger shall, within a reasonable time period, as determined by the Township consistent with the degree of pollution caused by the discharge, cease the discharge.

[Amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]

F. Nothing in this section shall affect a discharger's responsibilities under state law.

§ 388-40 Prohibited connections.

The following connections are prohibited, except as provided in § 388-39C above:

A. Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, that allows any nonstormwater discharge, including sewage, process wastewater, and wash water, to enter a separate storm sewer system and any connections to the separate storm sewer system from indoor drains and sinks. Any drain or conveyance that delivers nonstormwater discharges directly into wetland, riparian buffers, or other waters of the commonwealth is prohibited.

[Amended 10-17-2022 by Ord. No. 452-22]

B. Any drain or conveyance connected from a commercial or industrial land use to a separate storm sewer system which has not been documented in plans, maps, or equivalent records and approved by the Township.

[Amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]

§ 388-41 Roof drains and sump pumps.

A. Roof drains and sump pump discharges shall not be connected to sanitary sewers.

B. Roof drain, sump pump, foundation and footing drain discharges:

(1) To the maximum extent practicable, shall discharge to infiltration or vegetative BMPs or to vegetated or other areas with adequate capacity;

(2) May be connected to streets, storm sewers, or roadside ditches only if determined necessary or acceptable by the Township Engineer; and

[Amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]

(3) Shall be considered in stormwater management calculations to demonstrate that conveyance and receiving facilities have adequate capacity.

§ 388-42 Alteration of BMPs.

[Amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]

A. No person shall modify, remove, fill, landscape, alter, or impair the effectiveness of any stormwater BMPs, conveyances, stormwater management facilities, areas or structures, unless the activity is part of an approved maintenance program, without the written approval of the Township.

[Amended 10-17-2022 by Ord. No. 452-22]

B. No person shall place any structure, fill, landscaping, additional vegetation, yard waste, brush cuttings, or other waste or debris into a BMP or conveyance, or within a stormwater easement, that would limit or alter the functioning of the stormwater BMP or conveyance without the written approval of the Township.