Stormwater is water that runs off of the land during precipitation events. In areas developed before 2000, rainfall which lands on impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, roadways and roofs typically runs off quickly into street gutters until it reaches an inlet, which it is then conveyed to a nearby stream or lake. If left uncontrolled, stormwater can have detrimental effects on receiving waters including flooding, erosion and water quality problems that impair or even kill aquatic life in our streams. Explore these materials to learn more about what you can do to control excess stormwater runoff.
To volunteer for the annual creek clean-ups for Darby & Cobbs Creeks, go to Darby Creek Valley Association: www.DCVA.org
Things NOT to do include piping roof drains directly to the sidewalk, driveway or street; pumping sumps to the sanitary sewer; paving unpaved driveways; widening paved driveways; building impervious patios; and otherwise increasing rainwater runoff. Modifications which significantly increase impervious area require Township approval. Alternatives or storm water management facilities may be required. Contact the Township for further information.
Rain Gardens help reduce flooding and stormwater pollution, improving water quality in our streams and rivers for aquatic life and recreational users. This is becoming an ever more important part of mitigating the effects of climate change. 10 Residents per year are getting a rain garden built by the Hav-a-Rain Garden program if their home or small business ranks highly enough, they contribute sweat equity and commit to maintaining their garden. Hav-a-Rain Garden has built 50 residential gardens (through 2019) and helped Public Works build rain gardens in Bailey Park, Merwood Park and the Oakmont Parking Lot.
A Rain Garden is a depressed garden on your property designed to catch and filter the water that runs off your roof, driveway, walkway, compacted lawn areas and other impervious surfaces. Rain Gardens can infiltrate 30% more water than lawn and capture and filter the first flush of stormwater that contains the most pollutants. They greatly reduce pollutants entering the storm sewer system and reduce the volume of water entering our streams reducing flooding.
Find out how to build your own rain garden.
Harvest your own rainwater!
Reduce water running off roofs to help mitigate flooding at home/downstream. Make sure to use the rainwater. Plants love rain water!
The Simple Steps to Take: Buy Rain Barrels at any home store and install or go to a rain barrel workshop (https://prc.org/programs/conservation-workshops/watershed-rain-barrels/).
Trees are valued for the beauty and many other benefits they bring to our landscapes and neighborhoods. Trees are increasingly recognized for their importance in managing runoff. Their leaf canopies help reduce erosion caused by falling rain. They also provide surface area where rain water lands and evaporates. Roots take up water and help create conditions in the soil that promote infiltration.
Use Permeable Pavement for Driveways/Patios
Benefits to the Environment: Less rain water goes into storm sewers and more rain water goes into the ground.
Past floods, current risks, and future projections based on peer-reviewed research from the world’s leading flood modelers. The model calculates any location’s probability of flooding from the four major flood types: rain, riverine, tidal events, and storm surge.
Use this web mapping tool to visualize community-level impacts from coastal flooding or sea level rise (up to 10 feet above average high tides). Photo simulations of how future flooding might impact local landmarks are also provided, as well as data related to water depth, connectivity, flood frequency, socio-economic vulnerability, wetland loss and migration, and mapping confidence.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.