February 2026

Welcome to the Feb. 2026 installment of MS4 Monthly Messages!

Each month, Monroeville’s Stormwater Management team shares tips and tricks to keep our community and environment happy, healthy and safe.

Everywhere you look, cars are completely covered with salt and grime. Your car is probably included.

We still may be in the midst of winter weather, but many might be looking to clean and service their cars after recent snowstorms left them needing a tune-up.

Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or take your car to the shop, maintenance can have a considerable impact on our environment and stormwater infrastructure.

Home Maintenance Best Practices

If you choose to service your car at home, activities like changing oil or replacing parts can pose a significant risk if done improperly.

Spills or incorrect disposal of fluids can cause dangerous chemicals to leak onto the ground or paved surfaces. These fluids then make their way into nearby storm drains, eventually reaching local waterways.

There are ways to reduce the impact of servicing your car at home:

• Use a drip tray to catch excess fluids or debris before they reach the ground.
• Avoid spills of automotive fluids as much as possible.
  • If a spill does happen, clean it up promptly using a dry rag. Never use water to clean up a spill.
• If you need to wash auto parts, never use a household sink or drain. Water treatment plants are not designed to handle these types of pollutants.
• NEVER dump dangerous fluids onto the ground or into a storm drain.

Choosing the Right Repair Shop

Car repair shops are hot spots for stormwater contaminants.

They often service and store wrecked or leaking cars, which pose a major risk to our stormwater management.

If you plan to take your car to a shop:

• Ask the mechanic how the shop disposes of used oil and other dangerous contaminants.
• Make sure used batteries are being recycled properly.
• Reduce waste by ensuring the proper diagnosis is being made.

Washing Your Car

Washing vehicles can also cause pollutants to enter storm drains.

Nutrient-rich detergents, along with grease and grime, pose a risk to our plants and wildlife.

It’s always best practice to wash vehicles in the grass, so the wastewater is absorbed into the ground. The soil acts as a natural filter for the contaminants.

Washing vehicles on paved surfaces like driveways or parking lots causes the wastewater to flow directly into storm drains, eventually traveling to lakes, rivers and streams.

Commercial carwashes are the most environmentally friendly option, because they are often required to recycle or treat their own wastewater.

January 2026

To kick off the new year, we’re talking about the word nobody wants to hear: snow!

Removing snow from your driveway and sidewalks promptly and properly is essential to keeping not only yourself and neighbors safe, but also our environment and stormwater management infrastructure.

When snow melts, the water carries contaminants like sand, salt and grime into storm drains. These toxic substances eventually find their way into lakes, rivers and streams, potentially harming the people and wildlife who rely on those waterways.

When To Start Shoveling

• Start shoveling (or using a snowblower) as early as possible. Waiting too long could cause ice to build up.
• When you pile up the snow, make piles on grass or other porous surfaces that allow the snowmelt to enter the ground.
  • Piling snow on pavement could cause ponding and runoff, creating icy conditions and allowing contaminants to enter the stormwater system.
• Pile snow closer to your house and work your way toward the road. This allows for the maximum amount of storage for the shoveled snow.

When clearing snow on your property, it is important to NEVER pile snow on or near a storm drain.

Planning For Snowplows

Municipal snow removal crews work tirelessly to keep the roads in our community clear and safe. These plow trucks, however, can sometimes complicate your snow removal efforts on your property.

It is always best practice to accommodate for plows as you work to shovel snow off your driveway or sidewalks.

• On the side of your driveway nearest to oncoming traffic, clear an area near the road.
  • This allows the plow to unload snow before it reaches the driveway.
• As you shovel snow, pile it on the opposite side of the driveway.
  • This allows the plow to resume normal operation, without depositing snow on your shoveled driveway.

NEVER shovel snow onto the road or near a storm drain.

You can find past MS4 Monthly Messages from 2025 in our archive.

The Municipality of Monroeville is pleased to announce the promotion of Jason C. Safar, Sr., to the position of Commander in the Monroeville Police Department, effective January 5, 2026.

Commander Safar brings more than 27 years of law enforcement experience, including over two decades of dedicated service to the Monroeville community.

Before his promotion, he served as Administrative Lieutenant, where he provided leadership in department operations, personnel management, accreditation, and administrative oversight.

During his career with the Monroeville Police Department, Commander Safar has led and supported key initiatives focused on professional standards and accountability, including significant involvement in the Department’s successful accreditation, supervision of patrol and administrative personnel, and coordination with municipal leadership and community partners.

A U.S. Army Desert Storm veteran, Commander Safar has earned numerous commendations and holds advanced law enforcement certifications and executive-level training credentials.

The Municipality congratulates Commander Safar on his well-deserved promotion and looks forward to his continued leadership and service to the residents of Monroeville.

A busy intersection here in Monroeville is about to get an upgrade.

State Representative Brandon Markosek announced more than $498,000 in grant funding to modernize the intersection of Monroeville Boulevard, Oxford Drive and Jamison Lane.

The grant funding will be provided through PennDot’s ‘Green Light-Go’ program, which helps to improve the efficiency and safety of traffic lights around the state.

Markosek says the money will be used to upgrade traffic signal equipment in the intersection to enhance traffic flow and increase safety for pedestrians and drivers.

PennDot officials say the upgrades to the intersection must be completed by 2028.