MS4 Documentation

Goals of Lower Providence Township MS4 Program
 
Reduce the discharge of pollutants from the Township, educate residents of the Township about Stormwater Management and Pollution Prevention, protect water quality, and satisfy requirements of the Clean Water Act.
 
What is an MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System)?
 
An MS4 or Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System is a general permit mandated by the USEPA that authorizes the discharge of stormwater from municipal separate storm sewers to waters of the US. These storm sewers only convey storm water, not combined waste or sewage.
 

Lower Providence Township is required to develop, implement, and enforce their Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) to protect water quality, and to satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act and PA Clean Streams Law. The MS4 permit makes up the SWMP.

The SWMP and MS4 permit consist of six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) to be met by Lower Providence Township.

Minimum Control Measures (MCMs)
 
The six MCMs include:
  • Public Education & Outreach
  • Public Participation and Involvement
  • Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
  • Construction Site Runoff Control Measures
  • Post-construction Runoff Control Measures
  • Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping

Each MCM also has Best Management Practices (BMPs) associated with each which outline the practices the Township must incorporate in order to satisfy each MCM.

MS4 Annual Reports
 

MS4 Annual Reports must be submitted to the DEP’s regional office by September 30th of each permit year. Links for Annual Reports years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 can be found below:

 
Pollution Reduction Plan
 

The Pollution Reduction Plan requires permittees to achieve pollutant load reductions required by their PRP within 5 years following DEP’s approval of permit coverage. The Lower Providence Township PRP summarizes the Township’s Pollutant Requirements and Compliance and contains Proposed BMP Pollutant Reduction Calculations and guidance for Operation and Maintenance of BMPs.

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System - Pollution Reduction Report

MS4 RPR Maps

Skippack Creek Watershed Multi-Municipal Pollution Reduction Plan
 

Lower Providence Township participates in a multi-municipal Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan with Hatfield Township, Skippack Township, Towamencin Township, and Worcester Township to address impairments for sediment and phosphorus in the Skippack Creek Watershed. This document provides a prescriptive approach for reduction of known sources of impairment to receiving waterbodies within the Skippack Creek Watershed. This plan is issued as a pollution reduction plan meant to define a path to achieve a 10% reduction for sediment and 5% reduction of phosphorus over a 5-year period.

Skippack Creek Watershed Multi-Municipal Pollution Reduction Plan