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Announcements from the Environmental Advisory Committee
Did you know that all storm drains -- the rectangular ones on streets and roads that collect rain water runoff - connect directly to rivers, streams, and ponds? There is a common misconception among residents that the water that flows into storm drains is cleaned, treated, and/or recycled in someway like your sewer waste is. On the contrary, everything that enters storm drains near you will flow directly into natural waterways without any filtering or other treatment intervention.
Trash, dirt, and polluted water entering storm drains can be very detrimental to Montgomery Township, our waterways, and the entire region of land known as the "Delaware Estuary". Montgomery Township is just one township in the Delaware Estuary. The pollution in storm drains can harm or kill fish, amphibians, and all species of plants and animals that depend on our natural waterways.
In the second half of 2005, the Montgomery Township Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) has partnered with the "Partnership for the Delaware Estuary" to educate Montgomery Township residents about storm drain pollution, to distribute flyers throughout the township, and to apply reminder high-visibility markers to the tops of all township storm drains. The markers will feature a friendly picture of a fish.
If you would like to learn more or have questions about this program, please call the Township building and ask for Carolyn Tukey, or contact one of your MT EAC members.
Montgomery Township Stormwater Education Initiative
The Township is teaming up with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Unlike pollution from industry or sewage treatment facilities, which is caused by a discrete number of sources, stormwater pollution is caused by the daily activities of people everywhere. Rainwater and snowmelt run off streets, lawns, farms, and construction and industrial sites and pick up fertilizers, dirt, pesticides, oil and grease, and many other pollutants on the way to our rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Stormwater runoff is our most common cause of water pollution. Because stormwater pollution is caused by so many different activities, traditional regulatory controls will only go so far. Education and outreach are key components to any successful stormwater program. For more information on stormwater and educational materials, please follow the link below to the EPA Web site on stormwater outreach.
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwatermonth.cfm#customize
Recycling Pays!
In Montgomery Township, three years of diligent recycling efforts mean more than $140,000 in grants from the PA Department of Environmental Protection. Eight communities within Montgomery County have been working together to become eligible for greater funding opportunities, which can be used to finance municipal services and recycling opportunities for residents. The amount awarded to each municipality depends on each town's population and the commission's overall recycling performance. Since 2000, Montgomery Township residents have recycled nearly 12,000 tons.
Montgomery Township Environmental Advisory Committee earns Growing Greener Grant
The Montgomery Township Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) was awarded a Growing Greener Grant in the amount of $30,000 by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. The grant was designed to provide a basis for making informed decisions about the effectiveness and financial benefits of naturalized stormwater drainage basins with regard to mitigating non-point source urban/suburban pollution and reducing the cost of maintaining the basins.
Initial stages of the project entail the inventory of the existing stormwater basins within Montgomery Township. Basin characteristics to be evaluated include drainage area, slope, basin volume and design, degree of development in the surrounding landscape as well as outflow volume and velocity. In addition, a qualitative assessment will be performed regarding the potential for adverse environmental impact to receiving waters and ultimately to the Neshaminy watershed. This qualitative assessment could include, but would not be limited to: basin outflow volume and velocity, receiving stream characteristics, e.g. turbidity, channel structure and ecological status, the presence of sensitive habitat and/or threatened or endangered species, etc.
Once having inventoried and prioritized the drainage basins, one high priority basin, exhibiting the highest potential for adverse environmental impact based on the qualitative criteria noted previously, will be selected and naturalized with plantings of native grasses and appropriate wet/dry soil vegetation. It is anticipated that the planting of native grasses will effectively reduce non-point source pollution into receiving streams by providing a means for increased filtration of organics and particulates and infiltration of storm water when compared to non-naturalized basins.
One additional similar basin (based on drainage area, slope, degree of development, etc.) will be selected to serve as a non-naturalized control. A third drainage area, without a constructed basin, will serve as an additional control. In order to assess the effectiveness of the naturalization process each of the experimental and control basins will be instrumented, and data reflecting inflow and outflow volumes and velocities, total and suspended solids, pH and temperature, will be collected. A weather station measuring temperature and rainfall will be placed at each study site. Biodiversity surveys will also be conducted prior to and following naturalization to assess the impact of the naturalization process on this important barometer of ecosystem health. Finally, data also will be collected comparing maintenance cost, of naturalized versus non-naturalized basins (e.g. mowing, fertilization, etc.).
In addition to the experimental portion of the project, there is a significant community outreach/ environmental education component. Prior to any implementation of the project plan a community wide educational seminar will be conducted. During the project, educational/community feedback zones will be established around each of the basin study sites where educational brochures will be distributed to residents. Surveys of the residents within this 1000 meter zone will also be conducted to gauge resident response to the project.
Ultimately, the data gathered will provide a sound basis for decision making regarding the effectiveness and costs associated with the stormwater drainage basin naturalization program. The project will also provide significant opportunity for community outreach and environmental education. Every effort will be made to enlist the help of the community, e.g., residents, schools, environmental advocacy groups, etc., in project work such as plantings, biodiversity sampling and monitoring. Results and conclusions of the project will be shared with municipalities and communities in order to facilitate informed decision making regarding the cost effectiveness and efficacy of naturalized drainage basins with regard to storm water management.
The Growing Greener Program signed into law by Gov. Tom Ridge in 1999 has invested nearly $650 million in PA in such areas as farmland and open space preservation; State Parks improvements; clean up of abandoned mines, and restoration of watersheds.
Montgomery Township Thanks Local Businesses that Recycle
Montgomery Township businesses with exemplary recycling programs can be easily identified thanks to the efforts of the Montgomery Township Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC).
In order to enhance the recycling effort in the Township, the EAC is sponsoring a program to recognize and publicize those businesses with active recycling programs. Environmentally responsible businesses were given recognition stickers to prominently display within their business location illustrating their efforts with regard to recycling. Montgomery Township residents are encouraged to recognize these establishments for helping promote environmental awareness.
| Annie International | 103 Park Drive |
| AT&T Wireless | 800 Upper State Road |
| Brendan Stanton Inc. | 416 Stump Road |
| Burger King Route | 202 & 309 |
| Capital Wine & Spirits | 129 Hartman Road |
| Costco | 740 Upper State Road |
| Creative Playthings | 212 Progress Drive |
| DM Partners 210 | Progress Drive |
| Domino's Pizza | 803 Horsham Road |
| E.A. Dages Inc. | 975 Bethlehem Pike |
| Ecophon Certainteed, Inc. | 145 Keystone Drive |
| Electro Soft, Inc. | 113 Keystone Drive |
| ITW Philadelphia Resins | 130 Commerce Drive |
| Jiffy Lube | Five Points |
| Joseph Ambler Inn | 1005 Horsham Road |
| Judson Technologies | 221 Commerce Drive |
| Maytag Home Appliance | 751 Bethlehem Pike |
| Mid-Atlantic Packaging | 436 Stump Road |
| Montgomery Mall | 230 Montgomery Mall |
| Nash Printing Inc. | 1617 N. Line Street |
| Neurological Group of B/M Counties | 124 Dekalb Pike |
| Pella Windows and Doors | 803 Horsham Road |
| Pine Crest Country Club | 101 Country Club Drive |
| Pringle Electrical Mfg. Co. | 205 Progress Drive |
| Pritchard, Bieler, Gruver & Willison, P.C. | 590 Bethlehem Pike |
| Quality Coach | 102 Commerce Drive |
| Quality Inn | 969 Bethlehem Pike |
| Re:Source Pennsylvania | 108 Park Drive |
| Staples | 1210 North Bethlehem Pike |
| Suburban Propane | 701 Route 309 |
| Univest National Bank | 14 Main Street |
