Stormwater Management

Field with Clouds

Welcome to the Township's Stormwater Management Information page. This page is designed to provide Township citizens with quick access to information and resources to preserve and protect clean water in the Township and the Lancaster County regional community. Manheim Township is actively involved in a variety of programs and initiatives to meet various Statewide and National goals for clean water. Local residents have a role to play too, which when combined together will have a positive impact on our environment and the water that is so important to us all.

Stormwater originates from rainfall and other precipitation that runs off of surfaces all over the Township - rooftops, streets, construction sites, lawns, fields, etc. Stormwater makes its way into swales, storm drains, natural water courses and it literally takes everything loose on the ground with it when it rains...pollutants, sediment, leaves, trash, etc. The Township is actively involved in meeting statutory permitting requirements under state and federal law. The Township is also active with partners in a variety of programs and strategies to enhance water quality through plantings, mowing strategies, implementation of stormwater management facilites and other "best management practices" (BMPs).

We hope that you will find this information useful in learning about the requirements as well as tools to use on your own.

NFWF Grant Study and Stormwater Management Ordinance Update:

The University of Maryland's Environmental Finance Center has completed the Lancaster County Municipal Stormwater Management Financing Feasibility Study for the six participating municipalities. The goal of the study is to discuss how to improve stormwater and water quality conditions across Lancaster County, comply with the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit and create a dedicated, reliable funding source for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and compliance needs. The study and appendices can be viewed by clicking on the links below, or by visiting the Municipal Office at 1840 Municipal Drive.

Lancaster County Municipal Stormwater Management Financing Feasibility Study (PDF)

Lancaster County Municipal Stormwater Management Financing Feasibility Study Appendices (PDF)

Storm Water Management - NPDES and MS4 Programs

The Clean Water Act is the federal legislation that governs stormwater management. Stormwater point discharges to waters of the U.S. (pipes and drain pipes) are regulated using National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.

Storm Drain

In 1999, federal regulations extended coverage of the NPDES program to local separate storm sewer systems (MS4’s) serving populations less than 100,000. Manheim Township is required to comply with the NPDES program as a MS4 municipality. Under the NPDES stormwater program, permittees must develop a stormwater management plan that provides the details of how the community will comply with the requirements of the permit. Permits are based on a framework of six minimum control measures:

  • Public education and outreach
  • Public participation and involvement
  • Illicit discharge detection and elimination
  • Construction site runoff control
  • Post-construction storm water management in new development and redevelopment
  • Pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations and maintenance

More information on this program is available from the following website links:

NPDES and MS4 Links

Center for Watershed Protection
EPA, Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
EPA, Learn about Water
EPA, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Lancaster County Clean Water Consortium
Chesapeake Stormwater Network
Habitat MT
Lancaster County Conservation District (LCCD)
Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA)
Lancaster County Watersheds
Little Conestoga Watershed Alliance
Lititz Run Watershed Alliance
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Department of Environmental Protection 
Water Cycle Glossary of Terms