West Whiteland Township, as well as many other communities in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region, recently was required to obtain a permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for its storm drainage system.  This permit required the Township to locate and map all Stormwater piping and drainage ditch systems owned and maintained by the Township.  The permit also requires the Township to inspect these drainage systems periodically to detect any "illicit discharges" from the systems.

 

What in the world is an illicit discharge?  Simply stated, an illicit discharge is something that is exiting a storm drainage pipe or drainage ditch that is not stormwater and potentially could pollute our streams.  Examples of illicit discharges that would be typical for a community like ours are septic system overflows, sanitary wastewater, chlorinated pool water, paints, oil or other vehicle fluids, etc.

 

While the Township has inspected its drainage system yearly since the permit was issued, our inspectors cannot be everywhere all the time.  If you happen to see something exiting a storm pipe or ditch that looks, smells, or feels like something other than stormwater, please contact the Township so we can track it to its source and keep our streams as clean and pure as possible.