Stormwater & Pollutants

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires operators of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) to develop and implement a Storm Water Prevention Program to minimize the discharge of contaminates into surface waters. The Separate Storm Sewer is a system of underground pipes and surface drainage that carry rainwater and snowmelt away from roads and parking lots. Ultimately this drainage reaches our lakes and rivers.

Common pollutants include the following:

automotive fluids that leak from our vehicles onto roads, parking lots and driveways,
pesticides used to keep lawns green,
sediments from construction sites;
household trash and chemicals not properly disposed of
animal waste.

Residents of Ambler can have an enormous impact on the quality of rivers and streams by:

keeping vehicles maintained,
closely following application rates for pesticides and fertilizers,
properly disposing of household wastes and recyclables
watching for unusual discharges from storm drainage swales and piping during dry weather conditions.

Ambler Borough and Montgomery County operate the following programs to assist residents when disposing of these materials:

weekly collection of household trash and recyclables.
disposal of worn rechargable Ni-Cad batteries.
annual household hazardous waste collection day (normally held Saturdays in June) for the disposal of unwanted pesticides, paints and chemicals.
Local businesses provide disposal points for used oil, antifreeze and automotive batteries.

Please contact Borough Hall for more information regarding any of the programs listed above.

The following websites and documents for more information regarding storm water pollution and prevention: