Stormwater Management Grant Sought By Warminster Township

WARMINSTER, PA —The township is preparing to take care of its stormwater management issues.

The Warminster Township Supervisors recently unanimously approved submitting an application to the state for money to fix or replace some old stormwater systems.

"We have a huge stormwater issue," Township Supervisor Chairman Kenneth Hayes said at the board's Dec. 15 meeting. "We have a couple of projects that are shovel-ready."

Hayes said that "the state has been sitting on piles of money" that came from Washington, D.C., and that he knew it was going to take some time to get some funding.

He said that the stormwater management plan called for 25-year flood events, but that the system needs to be redesigned to retain 100-year flood events.

"We have two basin retrofits on the books," he said. "We're ready to go, Hopefully, we can get even more money to complete these projects."

Hayes said the stormwater basins can always be fixed, but they are never maintained.

"It doesn't take long for sediment to collect the in basin."

Township officials said the projects are small and that they heard about the funding just recently.

"This got sprung on us late," Hayes said regarding that applications were due just before the supervisors met. "If we can get Harrisburg to pay for half."

Township Engineer Craig Kennard said "a green component" was needed for infiltration and groundwater recharge to meet the application requirements.

"We're going to put in again for stream bank restoration, to look at courser material and the bedrock aquifer," Hayes said. "These are really worthwhile projects to apply for. We're in competition. These projects will help. I know people don't write to legislators that much. But if we can get support, it does weigh in quite heavily, We would pay for half and have the state pay for the rest. It's a win-win."