Stormwater Management

The Municipality of Monroeville encompasses roughly 19.7 square miles of the earth’s surface. Over the course of an average year, 36 inches of precipitation falls on Monroeville which amounts to roughly 12.3 billion gallons of water. In a suburban setting like Monroeville, approximately 60% of this water is not absorbed by the ground and becomes roughly 7.4 billion gallons of stormwater runoff which flows untreated into storm sewers and streams.

  1. Negative Consequences of stormwater runoff
  • Runoff from areas like maintained lawns, roads, parking lots, driveways, and construction sites carry pollutants such as oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, road salt, sediment, etc. which pollute the streams and rivers harming the aquatic ecosystem and polluting the waters we use for recreation and drinking water.
  • Runoff, especially from roofs and paved areas, has higher temperatures which harm aquatic ecosystems in streams and rivers by raising water temperature and reducing oxygen levels in the water.
  • Higher runoff rates make the streams and rivers flow deeper and faster eroding the stream banks which is harmful to the aquatic ecosystems and often causes roads and other infrastructure to be undermined and destroyed.
  • Higher runoff rates result in downstream flooding which damages public and private properties.
  • Water that runs off is not absorbed into the ground, which in turn decreases groundwater levels needed to provide well water to some people and to maintain adequate stream flows in drier months.
  • Increased runoff necessitates more stormwater infrastructure (pipes, inlets, manholes, detention facilities) which costs taxpayer money to build and maintain.

In order to address all these issues, the Municipality has enacted a stormwater management program. The program provides for the operation of a storm sewer system and rules to address stormwater runoff from lands in the Municipality. This program is regulated by the Federal Clean Water Act under a system called the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, commonly referred to as an MS4 permit. Under the program, the Municipality is required to obtain an MS4 permit to discharge stormwater, and the permit stipulates many activities that the Municipality must conduct in order to stay in compliance. The purpose of this webpage is to educate the public while satisfying some of the permit requirements.

  1. How does Monroeville manage stormwater?
  1. STORMWATER 101

What Can You Do to Help?

  1. Don't be a part of the problem...

Don’t Dump Anything Other Than Water Into Storm Sewer Grates or Onto Roads!Do Not Pour Oil down Stormwater Drains

  • Only rain in the drain! The water that enters the storm sewer grates does not get treated! This water flows directly into creeks and streams. If you dump oil, antifreeze, paint, paint thinner, pesticides, fertilizer, chlorinated pool water, etc. into the storm sewer or onto the road it will end up poisoning the creeks and streams.

Don’t Put Pet Waste in the Storm Sewer Grates!

  • We have ongoing problems with people putting pet waste into storm grates. The bacteria in the pet waste pollutes the creeks and streams. The plastic bags pet owners use to collect and dispose of the waste clogs the storm sewers causing flooding and requiring expensive repairs.
  • Pet waste should be placed in the garbage, flushed in the toilet, or buried in the yard.

Don’t Cause Pollution by Improperly Draining Your Pool (or Hot Tub)!

  • Wait a few days after you last add chlorine before you drain the pool, the chlorine will dissipate over a few days. Check the chlorine level before you drain to make sure it is gone.
  • Add a dechlorinator like sodium thiosulfate to the pool to eliminate the chlorine, this is available at pool stores.
  • Check the pH of the water before draining. The pH should be close to 7, which is neutral. If the pH differs, adjust the chemicals and retest until the pH is acceptable. Use your pool water testing kit to check the pH.
  • Don’t just drain onto a driveway or street. Ideally, let the water drain across the lawn or other vegetated areas for as long a distance as possible before it gets to the road or storm sewer. This filters the water and allows some of it to soak into the ground. If you have dechlorinated and checked the pH your lawn will love this deep watering.

Don’t Dirty the Water by Washing Your Car!

  • Obviously car wash water includes nasty pollutants like soap, road salt, oil, dirt, antifreeze, etc. which you would not want to flow into creeks and streams where it can kill fish, insects, frogs, and other aquatic life.
  • Ideally wash your car at a commercial car wash. The dirty water at car washes goes to a treatment plant where it is properly treated at Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) before being returned to the Ohio River.
  • If you wash your car at home, try to wash it on the lawn where the water can be absorbed or filtered instead of flowing into the storm sewer or onto a road. In many cases, the driveway is acceptable as well if the water from the driveway flows onto the lawn. If you cringe at this water flowing onto your lawn think about it going into streams!

Don’t Let Your Car, Truck, Boat, or Motorcycle Cause Water Pollution!

  • Don’t let your car leak fluids. One drop of used motor oil can contaminate a million drops of water. One quart of oil will contaminate 250,000 gallons of water or create an oil slick 2 acres in size. Allowing your car to leak oils, antifreeze, etc. creates a traveling water pollution machine, fix those leaks!
  • Perform your own oil changes, brake jobs, or other maintenance in a garage or other sheltered location where drips, leaks, spills, etc. cannot be washed away by rain. A recent study found that backyard mechanics in Michigan alone create more oil pollution than the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska.

Don’t Make Your Lawn Green at the Expense of the Environment!

  • Avoid using herbicides (weed killers) and fertilizers if you can. Simply mowing your lawn at a taller height can result in deeper, stronger roots, greener more drought resistance blades, and can crowd out weeds.
  • If you must use herbicides and fertilizers look into less harmful natural options such as corn gluten which is a natural, non-toxic weed suppressor and slow-release fertilizer.
  • Get a soil test! Penn State will test your soil for $9. The same scientists that farmers rely on to manage their fields will provide you a custom detailed report that will tell you what fertilizer to buy and how much to use (i.e. apply 1.75lbs per 100 square feet of 10-10-10 once in fall and once in spring). This will save you money, provide better results, and protect the environment.
  • If you feel you must use them apply herbicides and fertilizer in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Apply the proper amount at the proper time to save yourself money, get the best result, and save the environment.
  • Don’t apply these chemicals when the ground is frozen or before rains are forecasted.
  • Be careful or use a spreader with “edgeguard” to avoid spreading herbicides or fertilizer on sidewalks, streets, or driveways adjacent to lawn areas where the chemicals will get washed into the storm sewers.
  • Do not blow leaves or lawn clippings onto the road where they will be washed into the storm sewers and ultimately to the creeks and streams. This organic material depletes oxygen in the water and can cause algae blooms that harm fish and other organisms.
  1. ...be part of the solution!
  1. Tip of the Month

Billing Appeal Process

If you wish to appeal your recent billing for the Pollution Control and Flood Reduction billing, please complete the Appeal Form below and email or mail to:

2700 Monroeville Boulevard
Monroeville, PA 15146

Email the manager's office.

Note: Under Ordinance Number 2689, appeals must be filed within 30 days of receiving your bill. Please keep in mind that appeals will only be considered under one of the three options on the form.

Help Us Clean Up Monroeville!

Refuse and litter is not pretty to look at but it also often ends up washing or blowing into storm sewers and streams. Removing the litter makes the town look nicer and improves water quality.

Come help us clean up Monroeville:

  • Jack Sedlak Memorial Clean-Up Day
    • Held annually on Earth Day in April
    • Attend a free picnic afterward with food and prizes
    • Call Monroeville Parks at 412-856-1008 for additional details

Trees & Vegetation

Plant some native trees or vegetation to reduce and filter runoff!

Visit our Green Ideas page for instructions and ideas on rain barrels, rain gardens, native plants, environmental impact information, and more!