Concerned About Urban Sprawl?
by Charla Keiser and Bill Gladstone


Over the last several years, stormwater management has become widely recognized as an essential part of protecting Pennsylvania’s water resources. According to BL Companies, an architecture, engineering, and environmental sciences firm, developers are being requested to do more than ever before when it comes to ground water recharge and storm water quality. “Traditionally you only had to meet runoff rate requirements,” explains BL Companies Manager of Civil Engineering Mike Lozanoff, PE. “Now impacts such as volume, infiltration, and treatment are more of a concern.”  

Adding to the challenge, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) has not officially published established guidelines and specific criteria regarding post-development runoff water quality. PADEP is currently in the process of developing a Stormwater Management Manual outlining best management practices (BMPs) to improve storm water management throughout the state.  

Rather than utilizing one or two stormwater management technique, PADEP’s new guidelines favor an integrated system or “treatment chain” of techniques like the ones developed for the LeTort Spring Run project. An integrated system requires selecting BMPs that achieve multiple standards (volume control, groundwater recharge), implementing a combination of structural and non-structural BMPs (such as vortechnics units which remove sediment and bioretention areas), and developing the system within the site’s characteristics constraints (topography geology and watersheds).  

With limited PADEP requirements in place, currently stormwater systems are reviewed by individual County Conservation Districts on a case-bycase basis. “Pre-design meetings with the Conservation District can go a long way in development of a site,” adds Lozanoff. Another aspect to consider is ongoing operation and maintenance of the stormwater facility. “It’s becoming mandate for landowners to operate and maintain system, so that’s going to be another factor in meeting new requirements.”  

Mike Lozanoff, P.E. is Manager of Civil Engineering at BL Companies’ Harrisburg, Pennsylvania office. He has extensive experience in commercial, residential, and industrial land development projects including, site engineering and design, stormwater quality, master planning, and construction administration. He can be reached at mlozanoff@blcompanies.com.

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