Norristown Creates New Stormwater Authority

NORRISTOWN, PA — As powerful rain storms increase in both intensity and frequency around the region, municipal governments are searching for ways to make local communities more resilient.

Norristown took the first step this month with the creation of a new Stormwater Authority, an arm of municipal government will address flooding, sinkholes, the aging sewer network, and much more.

The authority, which will report to municipal council, currently has vacancies, and applications are being sought. Only Norristown residents can fill out the five roles on the authority.

A chief objective of the authority is to create a fee for stormwater management. The municipality must pay the fee, as the mandate for this program, which was handed down federally, is unfunded.

Roughly $13 million will be needed over the course of the next five years to manage Norristown's stormwater system, analysts hired by the municipality say. Norristown has 1,350 inlets and more than 30 miles of pipe.