How Pennsauken Township Battles Stormwater Pollution

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has determined that stormwater runoff is the largest source of water pollution impacting our creeks and rivers. Rainwater that flows down storm drains carries with it anything that is dropped, dumped, blown, or swept into the street. Items such as grass, leaves, oil, fertilizers, pet droppings, and all types of trash and litter will eventually be washed down a storm drain and into one of the creeks and rivers throughout the Township.

The pollution of our waterways is a serious issue; and it’s not just the trash and debris that you find floating along the current. There’s much more that you can’t see with the naked eye that can degrade water quality and harm local marine life. That’s why every year, The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection enlists the help of municipalities throughout the state to remind residents and businesses of the importance of protecting our creeks and rivers.

How Pennsauken Battles Stormwater Pollution

The Township has adopted several ordinances intended to stop pollutants from going down the drain in the first place. For example, Pennsauken has had a litter ordinance on the books for many years. It is illegal to dump or drop litter of any kind on public or private property. Stormwater pollution aside, not littering is simply essential for the appearance of the Township and the quality of life of its residents. Too often, we see motorists dump all sorts of trash into the street. Not only is it disgusting, it’s against the law.

Since trash creates serious problems when washed down an inlet, an ordinance was adopted that requires dumpsters and other trash containers to be covered at all times. This not only stops trash from blowing into the street, but also helps keeps liquids from leaching out and getting washed into the storm sewers. We ask Pennsauken businesses to be especially diligent to keep their dumpsters covered and to avoid overfilling them with too much trash.

The Township also requires pet owners to clean up after their pet. While there’s an ordinance in place, this just makes common sense. Pet waste is to be properly disposed of in the trash. For example, when walking your dog, or taking your four-legged friend to Pennsauken’s dog park, make sure you bring a plastic bag to clean up after them. Your neighbors, and their shoes, will appreciate the effort.

But it’s not just about picking up after your dog. We all know about the geese that have decided to make Pennsauken a rest stop during their annual migrations. And they certainly leave a mess behind wherever they go. When washed into a waterway, geese droppings are another source of water pollution. And whether you employ border collies, cutouts of dogs, air canons and the like, it still remains very difficult to get these geese to migrate somewhere other than Pennsauken. That’s why the Township has adopted an ordinance making it illegal to feed them on public property.

Pennsauken’s ordinance on improperly disposing of waste materials prohibits anything other than rainwater from going into an inlet. Dumping oil or other unwanted household chemicals into a storm inlet is not only dangerous but also deadly to marine life. Please take advantage of the hazardous waste disposal days that the County has during the year. Many times, they occur right at Pennsauken’s sanitary landfill on River Rd., allowing you to quickly and easily dispose of your hazardous materials in a proper fashion.

Remember, pollutants can also be grass, leaves and fertilizers. While some think of these as “organic,” they are in fact pollutants to clean water and a danger to aquatic life. In addition, too many leaves raked down a storm inlet can also cause the sewer to clog and possibly result in flooding. Only rainwater should go down a storm drain.

The ordinances mentioned are intended to remind residents and businesses of the need to stop waterway pollution at the source. In addition, the NJDEP has directed municipalities to start using the new eco-style inlets. Pennsauken has many of these already in place. The openings are purposely small enough to stop large debris, such as plastic bottles and soda cans from being washed into the storm sewer, but still allow rainwater to pass through. 

In addition to the Township retrofitting the new eco-style inlets, businesses are also required by ordinance to retrofit storm inlets whenever a parking lot needs to be repaved or seal coated of a parking area is done.

Pennsauken Township’s Highway Department inspects inlets every year and cleans those blocked by debris. However, with over 1,100 inlets throughout the Township, the Highway Department cannot always get to them immediately. Cleaning off a storm inlet and placing the debris in a trash container is a way that Pennsauken residents can help keep the environment clean. This is particularly important in neighborhoods that are prone to street flooding in a heavy rain.

The ordinances discussed in this article can be found on the Township website in our Code Book. Specific requirements are included in Chapters 101, Animals; Chapter 197, Litter; Chapter 256, Sewers and Drainage Systems; and Chapter 269, Solid Waste. While it is important to be aware of the ordinances that the Township has adopted to protect our waterways, it is really up to each one of us to take responsibility for keeping the environment clean. Everyone, whether they are a longtime resident, or a brand new business owner moving into town, has the ability to help in some small way.

RESOURCES

Pennsauken Township Municipal Stormwater Management Plan - Master Plan Element

Pennsauken Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Information for Pennsauken Township

Stormwater Outfall Map For Pennsauken Township

ORDINANCES

Township Ordinances On Animals

Ordinance 2021:02 - Creating Article XIV Stormwater Control in the Code Book of the Township of Pennsauken

Ordinance 2005:22 - Amending Chapter 256, Sewers and Drainage Systems, to prohibit improper disposal of waste in the Municipal Storm Sewer System

Ordinance 2005:23 - Amending Chapter 256, Sewers and Drainage Systems, to prohibit illicit connections into the Municipal Storm Sewer System

Ordinance 2005:24 - Amending Chapter 101, Animals, to prohibit the feeding of wildlife on public property

Ordinance 2005:25 - Amending Chapter 269, Solid Waste, regulating the placement of yard waste near a storm sewer inlet

Ordinance 2006:15 - Amending Chapter 141, Development Regulations, to incorporate stormwater management regulations

Ordinance 2010:03 - Amending Chapter 269, Solid Waste, regulating the placement of yard waste in the street

Ordinance 2010:07 - Amending Chapter 256, Sewers and Drainage Systems, to require retrofitting of private storm drain inlets

Ordinance 2010:08 - Amending Chapter 269, Solid Waste, to regulate the use of dumpsters exposed to stormwater