§ 505-101. Short title.

This Part shall be known and may be cited as the "Watershed Stormwater Management Ordinance."

§ 505-102. Findings.

The governing body of the municipality finds that:

   A.   Inadequate management of accelerated stormwater runoff resulting from development throughout a watershed increases flood flows and velocities, contributes to erosion and sedimentation, overtaxes the carrying capacity of existing streams and storm sewers, greatly increases the cost of public facilities to convey and manage stormwater, undermines floodplain management and flood-reduction efforts in upstream and downstream communities, reduces groundwater recharge, and threatens public health and safety.

   B.   Inadequate planning and management of stormwater runoff resulting from land development and redevelopment throughout a watershed can also harm surface water resources by changing the natural hydrologic patterns, accelerating stream flows (which increase scour and erosion of streambeds and stream banks, thereby elevating sedimentation), destroying aquatic habitat and elevating aquatic pollutant concentrations and loadings such as sediments, nutrients, heavy metals and pathogens. Groundwater resources are also impacted through loss of recharge.

   C.   A comprehensive program of stormwater management (SWM), including minimization of impacts of development, redevelopment and activities causing accelerated erosion, is fundamental to the public health, safety, welfare, and the protection of the people of the municipality and all the people of the commonwealth, their resources, and the environment.

   D.   Inadequate management of accelerated stormwater runoff resulting from development throughout a watershed poses a threat to surface and groundwater quality.

   E.   Stormwater can be an important water resource by providing groundwater recharge for water supplies and base flow of streams, which also protects and maintains surface water quality.

   F.   Impacts from stormwater runoff can be minimized by using project designs that maintain the natural hydrologic regime, and sustain high water quality, groundwater recharge, stream baseflow and aquatic ecosystems. The most cost-effective and environmentally advantageous way to manage stormwater runoff is through nonstructural project design, minimizing impervious surfaces and sprawl, avoiding sensitive areas (i.e., stream buffers, floodplains, steep slopes), and designing to topography and soils to maintain the natural hydrologic regime.

   G.   Public education on the control of pollution from stormwater is an essential component in successfully addressing stormwater.

   H.   Federal and state regulations require certain municipalities to implement a program of stormwater controls. These municipalities are required to obtain a permit for stormwater discharges from their separate storm sewer systems under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

   I.   Nonstormwater discharges to municipal separate storm sewer systems can contribute to pollution of waters of the commonwealth by the municipality.

§ 505-103. Purpose.

The purpose of this Part is to promote the public health, safety, and welfare within the City of Reading and its watersheds by maintaining the natural hydrologic regime by minimizing the impacts described in § 505-102 of this Part through provisions designed to:

   A.   Promote alternative project designs and layout that minimizes impacts to surface and groundwater.

   B.   Promote nonstructural best management practices (BMPs).

   C.   Minimize increases in stormwater volume.

   D.   Minimize impervious surfaces.

   E.   Manage accelerated runoff and erosion and sedimentation problems at their source by regulating activities that cause these problems.

   F.   Provide review procedures and performance standards for stormwater planning and management.

   G.   Utilize and preserve the existing natural drainage systems.

   H.   Manage stormwater impacts close to the runoff source, which requires a minimum of structures and relies on natural processes.

   I.   Focus on infiltration of stormwater where compatible, to maintain groundwater recharge, to prevent degradation of surface and groundwater quality and to otherwise protect water resources.

   J.   Maintain existing base flows and quality of streams and watercourses, where possible.

   K.   Meet legal water quality requirements under state law, including regulations at 25 Pa. Code, Chapter 93.4a, to protect and maintain existing uses and maintain the level of water quality to support those uses in all streams, and to protect and maintain water quality in special protection streams.

   L.   Address the quality and quantity of stormwater discharges from the development site.

   M.   Provide a mechanism to identify controls necessary to meet the NPDES permit requirements.

   N.   Implement an illegal discharge detection and elimination program to address nonstormwater discharges into the municipality's separate storm sewer system.

   O.   Preserve and restore the flood-carrying capacity of streams.

   P.   Prevent scour and erosion of stream banks and streambeds.

   Q.   Provide performance standards and design criteria for watershed-wide stormwater management and planning.

   R.   Provide proper operation and maintenance of all permanent stormwater management facilities and BMPs that are implemented in the municipality.