What is stormwater and why is it a concern for Cranberry Township?

Stormwater commonly refers to runoff from rain, snow and ice melt.  In the Township’s natural settings, stormwater slowly soaks into the ground surface or flows overland into adjacent streams.  This process relies on an abundance of pervious surfaces such as grasslands, farmland, lawns, or other natural landscapes.  In Cranberry Township, along with all other areas of the state, these natural surfaces are often replaced with impervious or hard surfaces such as streets, sidewalks, parking lots, homes or other similar structures. The result of an urbanized region is the reduced amount of natural area available to absorb stormwater.  With an increase in impervious or hard surfaces, a larger amount of stormwater ends up flowing, at a swift rate, over these surfaces where it tends to collect chemicals and debris along the way.  If not properly controlled, stormwater can overwhelm streams and embankments and cause major flooding in the Township, along with soil erosion and water pollution.  

Show All Answers

1. What is stormwater and why is it a concern for Cranberry Township?
2. What is the Township’s Stormwater Management Program?
3. What is a base rate utility and who pays it?
4. Are property owners who don’t use public sewer and water part of the base rate utility?
5. Why not use the Township’s General Fund to absorb these costs?
6. If the stormwater rate is to generate funds to replace the dollars currently coming from the General Fund, how are those General Fund dollars being re-purposed?
7. What is mandated?
8. Why is this a utility?
9. What is considered a developed property?
10. What is the Cranberry Township General Authority?
11. What's the basis for the utility system management?
12. How will the proposed stormwater management program be implemented?
13. What about commercial properties?
14. How will the Township calculate impervious surfaces for commercial properties?
15. What if my house is smaller than my neighbor's house?
16. What’s the difference between a publicly or privately-owned stormwater system?
17. How is this utility different from a tax?
18. How does the appeal process work?
19. What is the summary of the program?