Newtown Township’s Pollution Reduction Plan

At the April 10, 2019, Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Township Engineer Owen Hyne told Supervisors that the PA Department of Environmental Protect (DEP) requires that the township reduce pollutants (sediment and/or nutrients) from entering its watersheds by 10%. This is part of Newtown’s “MS4” program.

MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. MS4s are conveyances or systems of conveyances including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains that are owned or operated by a public entity, are designed or used for collecting or conveying storm water and are not a combined sewer or part of a publicly owned treatment works. A municipality is bound by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for an MS4 when all or a portion of a municipality lies within an urbanized area (UA), as determined by the US Census Bureau.*

Three “impaired watersheds” were identified by the EPA for pollution reduction:

1. Neshaminy Creek – Nutrients and Sediments
2. Lake Luxembourg – Nutrients and Sediments
3. Core Creek - Sediments

To meet DEP requirements, Newtown must reduce a total of 202,252 lbs. of sedimentation per year entering these watersheds for five years.

As late as 2017, it was thought that the Township would not be able to find enough project areas to meet the 10% reduction requirement, which could result in penalties to the Township. Also, it was anticipated that the cost would be “astronomical” – as much as $850,000!

A Town, A Plan, A Meadow (or Two or Three)

After many discussions with the DEP, the Township has put forward a Pollution Reduction Plan (PRP) that details the scheduled implementation of a series of Best Management Practices (BMP’s) necessary for the reduction of pollutants in the waterways of the municipality. Specifically, the plan proposes to implement storm basin and meadow conversions, inlet cleaning and stream restoration projects.

Based upon this plan, the Township has budgeted $30,000 per year over 5 years. Much of the cost savings is due to the anticipated use of Township labor and equipment to do the meadow conversions and other projects.

Parks May Be Affected

At the April 12 BOS meeting, Supervisor Calabro asked if the Township has enough township basins that can be converted to meadows to meet the 10% reduction requirement. Township Manager, Micah Lewis clarified that the seven township owned basins will be converted to meadows along with under-utilized park areas. The manicured grass areas will be transformed into meadow areas (wild flowers, etc.), which will also reduce fuel consumption and maintenance costs.

Included in the list of potential "meadow conversions" is 6.21 acres of the 22.8 acre Roberts Ridge Park located on Lower Dolington Road at Frost Lane. The area that the Township is considering for conversion to a meadow appears to be the grassy area where the Newtown Parks & Recreation Department hosts its “Super Soccer Stars” educational program for children ages 2-3 (see Figure).

The impact of meadow conversion on Roberts Ridge Park was discussed at the April 24, Board of Supervisors meeting. Specifically, Supervisor Mack suggested that a meadow conversion would negatively impact soccer and other recreational activities in the park. Mr. Lewis responded that there is no marked, official soccer field in Roberts Ridge Park and that children’s “Super Soccer Stars” classes would be moved to other parks. Also, Mr. Lewis confirmed that the meadows could be designed to include cutouts or paths that would permit people to stroll through the meadows, which would include wildflowers.

Mr. Mack asked if possible meadow conversions of basins owned by HOAs would count toward the township’s reduction required. Mr. Hyne said although these basins are covered under existing BMPs, some type of credit would be given.

Mr. Lewis believes the meadow and basin conversions will start this year. Mr. Calabro suggested working with Bucks County Community or Del Val Colleges horticultural departments.

Submit Comments

The Pollution Reduction Plan will be are available for review and public comment at the Newtown Township Building at 100 Municipal Drive, Newtown, PA 18940 on April 19, 2019, for a 30-day comment period. You can also download it here.

Comments can also be submitted in writing to the Newtown Township Manager at the address listed above, no later than May 20, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. Comments are also accepted via email to info@newtownpa.gov

The plan will be on the agenda at the May 8, 2019, Board of Supervisors meeting. The public is welcome to attend this meeting and comment upon the plan in person.

* US Census Bureau uses a complicated formula to delineate Urban Areas from Rural Areas. Newtown Township is approximately 12 square miles. According to the 2010 Census Data, ONLY 1.22 square miles of the Township is NOT considered Urbanized. That means 90% of Newtown Township is considered an Urbanized Area by the US Census Bureau!