Overview

The City of Pottsville has a goal to prevent point source pollution to Commonwealth waters originating within the City's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4). The U.S. EPA and PADEP regulate the US Clean Water Act to prohibit municipal point source pollution discharges through 5-year MS4 permits. Pottsville is regulated through the NPDES General Permit for Storm water Discharges from Small MS4s (PAG-13).

This permit program requires six minimum controls listed below and will expire in March 2018. The City submitted a PAG-13 Notice of Intent for coverage under the next 5-year general permit on September 2017. This permit will also include a storm water management program to reduce the contamination of storm water runoff. This permit program regulates storm water that might impact water quality, but it excludes combined sewer discharges since that is regulated separately.

The MS4 6 minimum control measures (MCM's) are listed below:

  • MCM #1 - Public Education and Outreach on Storm Water Impacts
  • MCM #2 - Public Involvement / Participation
  • MCM #3 - Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
  • MCM #4 - Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control
  • MCM #5 - Post Construction Storm Water Management in New Development and Redevelopment
  • MCM #6 - Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
View the full PDF here

Resources

There are a number of educational items that are found on our website that you may use to increase your knowledge and even your participation for improving clean storm water runoff in Pottsville or elsewhere. Please feel free to use the links below for more information. If you have any questions or would like further information, please feel free to call us at (570) 628-4417.

You can add your email to our list of outreach contacts for information and participation at this link: MS4 Outreach Contact Form

You can submit information related to a suspected illicit discharge here - MS4 Complaint Form
(Requires Acrobat Reader; In-browser PDF viewers found in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge may not work properly)

Public Calendar of Events

Annual Public Meeting - February 12, 2018
Watershed Group Meeting - TBD
Outreach Activities - Solicit Input at Meetings - Public Presentation at City Council Meeting (February 12, 2018)
Illicit Discharge Monitoring - TBD
Stencling Drainage Inlets; Suspected Illicit Discharge Reporting - see hotline below (Pottsville MS4 Resources)

Pottsville MS4 Plan and Schedule

Pending

Pottsville MS4 Resources

Pottsville Hotline to Report Suspected Illicit Discharges - (570) 628-4417
Pottsville MS4 Outfalls to Commonwealth Waters Map
Pottsville Stormwater Ordinance

Educational Resources

Washing Your Car
Fertilizing Your Lawn
Car Leaking Oil
Pet Waste
When It Rains, It Drains

MS4 NPDES Links

PADEP Municipal Stormwater
EPA Stormwater Homepage
EPA Low Impact and Guidance Manuals
Stormwater PA
Schuylkill Action Network
Delaware River Basin Commission
Schuylkill Conservation District
Schuylkill Headwaters Association