Stormwater authority formation a good sign for water quality
A vote this week in Jackson Township has pushed the formation of the Southwest Butler Stormwater Authority one step closer to reality. It’s a move that should benefit the entire region.
Jackson Township, Harmony, Evans City and Zelienople all have agreed to form the authority. As we learned in the Friday edition of the Butler Eagle, all but Zelienople have approved filing the incorporation papers.
Stormwater authorities are still somewhat new in Pennsylvania, starting with a law passed in 2013. But as officials in the four municipalities forming the new authority noted, sharing the work makes a lot of sense.
Chris Rearick, Jackson Township engineer, pointed out the most obvious benefit.
“The benefits are to be able to collaborate directly on projects and achieve an economy of scale,” Rearick said. “Four municipalities together would be capable of undertaking larger projects at one point in time. Funded separately, it would take much longer to get to those projects.”
Another advantage is the different method of funding. Municipalities can charge a tax, but some properties might be exempt — nonprofits or churches, for example.
Municipal authorities, though, charge usage fees, and every property is responsible for them.
Stormwater management is a big deal in the area. Pennsylvania averages more than 40 inches of precipitation a year, and increased development has made the natural management of stormwater runoff less effective.
As StormwaterPa, a nonprofit focused on stormwater management, notes, this carries serious risks.
“Without treatment, most of the stormwater that runs from the land into our waterways is unhealthy for people and bad for the environment,” an overview on the StormwaterPa site states. “Runoff can carry chemicals, metals, bacteria, viruses, organic compounds and other pollutants directly into creeks, lakes, rivers and streams.
“And, stormwater runoff can cause severe erosion and flooding — even during a typical Pennsylvania storm.”
We’ll be watching as the Southwest Butler Stormwater Authority sets the standard for other such endeavors across the commonwealth.
— JK
