The goal of the City’s Stormwater Management Program is to manage the drainage infrastructure, in order to minimize pollution from entering our local waterways. Best Management Practices are implemented to meet federal requirements established by the Clean Water Act, and issued through a PaDEP MS4 NPDES permit. The program is comprised of many elements which act to reduce runoff volume, pollution, and localized flooding, while promoting public safety and improving the water quality of the streams and the Lehigh River, which flow through Allentown. Long-range goals of the program include replacing and upgrading aged infrastructure, understanding and addressing stream impairments, and educating and partnering with our community to help reduce environmental impacts.

Report Stormwater Pollution

Help to keep pollution out of our streams by reporting spills and illegal dumping. Paint, motor oil, dirt, cooking grease, and other pollutants which enter inlet grates in the streets, travel through underground pipes and pollute our streams.

To Report a Spill or Illegal Dumping:

• Call 911 for an emergency
• Call 610.437.7638 during business hours (7:00 am - 3:30 pm)
• Call 610.437.7751 after hours and on weekends
• Submit an online report by visiting the Contact Us page of the website

Protect Our Streams with these Seasonal Tips

Do You Scoop the Poop? A Pet Owner’s Guide to Stormwater Pollution Prevention.

It might not seem like a stormwater problem, but animal waste is one of the many seemingly small sources of pollution that can add up to big problems for the water quality of our local streams, and even human health. Pet waste doesn’t simply decompose. During rainfall, pet waste and the pathogens it contains (nutrients, bacteria, parasites, and viruses) wash into storm drains and into our waterways. A single gram of pet waste contains an average of 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, some of which can cause disease in humans.

Picking up after your pet is easy if you’re prepared. Simply carry a plastic bag with you on every walk with your dog, and you’ll have the equipment to remove your dog’s waste. Then throw it in the nearest trash can, and you’re done! There are even compact, refillable bag dispensers that you can attach right to your dog’s leash.

One of the easiest ways to keep bacteria and other pathogens out of our local waterways (not to mention keeping your local neighborhood clean) is picking up after your pet every time and disposing of the waste properly. And of course, never throw pet waste near or into the storm drain.