Stormwater Management

Overview

As part of the township's Storm Water Discharge permit, all storm drain basins are inspected each year. Those that require cleaning are also addressed. Please refrain from placing yard waste in the streets. Do not throw trash and debris (litter) into the street. Storm drains all lead to our waterways (the Cooper River, Pennsauken Creek, or the Delaware River). Ultimately anything you place in the street will be carried to one of these waterways and pollute it.

It is very rare that the subsurface infrastructure pipes clog and cause flooding on roadways. There are two main scenarios that cause local flooding. The first is when the inlet grates and curb hoods on the street are covered with debris, preventing rainwater from efficiently passing through. Although Public Works staff will check those inlets that habitually clog in advance of a significant storm, with over 1,100 inlets in Pennsauken, it is impossible to inspect each one prior to each rainfall. The simple fix is to simply remove the debris and place in a trash or yard debris container to allow the water to flow freely. Similar to the “Adopt-a-Hydrant” initiative for clearing snow from fire hydrants, we encourage residents to clear their local inlet.

The second scenario is when a significant amount of rain falls in a short amount of time, overwhelming the system at first, and then gradually draining. We are seeing these “micro-burst” of storms more frequently, often times not letting the ground soak up the previous storm. 

If you notice a clogged inlet grate or local flooding during a storm, contact the Public Works office.