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 610.437.7636 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

Start shoveling early! The sooner you shovel and the more snow you remove, the less salt you will need. Below are some dos and don’ts when shoveling or plowing snow.

Do not over salt! Salt takes time to work. Extra salt does not increase its time to work.

• Certain de-icers and salt have less environmental impact. Look for eco-friendly products that contain acetate, potassium chloride or magnesium chloride. Try to avoid products containing sodium chloride and calcium chloride which are more harmful to vegetation, wildlife, and pets.
• Many de-icers don’t work in temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. For an alternative and more environmentally friendly traction agent, try using cracked corn.
• Sand and kitty litter may work but can clog storm drains and contribute to runoff pollution.
• When possible, sweep up excess salt and traction material before they runoff into our streams.