A MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) is a publicly owned system of conveyances (including catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, pipes, tunnels, storm drains, etc.) that discharge untreated Stormwater into the waterways of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

Youngwood Borough was designated as a small MS4 in 2004 due to the small streams in our area that receive stormwater and eventually flow into Jacks Run and then the Sewickley Creek.  We are required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP).  Permit NO. PAG136145 effective on March 16, 2018 will expire on March 15, 2023.  

As required by the NPDES permit, the Borough must develop, implement, and enforce a Stormwater

Management Program (SWMP).  The goal of the SWMP is to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the MS4 to the maximum extent practicable, to protect water quality, and to satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act and Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law.  The permit consists of 6 Minimum Control Measures (MCM).  Within each MCM, there are multiple Best Management Practices (BMP) to meet the goal of each MCM.  

The SWMP will be carried out annually over the term of the permit (5 years). The program will be monitored and evaluated regularly to ensure successful implementations of BMPs. Successful implementation will help to minimize the negative impacts to waterways caused by polluted stormwater discharges. 

STORMWATER/MS4 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

     As part of the Youngwood Borough Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS4, Permit with the Pennsylvania DEP, the Youngwood Borough Council would like to remind all people who live in and work within the Borough that our storm sewer inlets, curbs and gutters, drainage ditches and storm pipes discharge directly and untreated into Jacks Run, Sewickley Creek, and other natural waterway tributaries within the Borough.  In order to help keep our streams and lakes clean and pollution-free, we remind residents and businesses to please:

• October – If using fertilizers or pesticides, always follow the directions and never apply immediately before a rain storm.
• November - Do NOT discard leaves, grass clippings, used oil, paints, solvents or other wastes into the storm drains, roadside ditches or stream channels.

STORMWATER VIDEOS LINK

https://westmorelandconservation.org/stormwater/the-homeowners-guide-to-stormwater-video-series/

Please click on below links for helpful information relating to Stormwater Management. 

For more information about Stormwater Management and MS4 materials, please contact the Youngwood Borough Administration.