Citizens can help report violations or problems they notice in their local streams before they cause more damage and pollution.  Residents sometimes may be the first to recognize “illicit” discharges being directed into storm sewers or flowing out of storm sewer outfall pipes into streams.  “Dry weather flows”- flows from outfall pipes after a 72 hour or greater period without rain- should be reported to your municipality for further investigation.

New stormwater regulations from Pennsylvania’s DEP require that your municipality investigate more thoroughly potential illicit discharges (pollutants) into our streams.  You can help by promptly reporting the following events to the authorities listed in the hotline box below.  Here are some of the conditions that you should report and to whom they should be reported.

            n  Sediment leaving a construction site during rain events and other violations (your

                  county conservation district- send a photo if possible)

            n  Observed pollution event or pollutants in stream (DEP)

            n  Clogged or leaking sewer lines (your sewer authority)

            n  Inadequately treated sewer effluent from treatment plant

                  (your sewer authority and DEP)

            n  Spills, hazardous materials (DEP Spills or PEMA hotlines)

            n  Illegal dumping into water courses or storm sewers (your municipality, DEP)

            n  Dry weather flows from outfall pipes into streams (your municipality)

            n  Fish Kills (Fish Commission, DEP)

            n  Water main breaks (Aqua PA or Chester Water Authority). 

Water pollution events can also be reported on line through the DEP web site, www.dep.state.pa.us, select Environmental Complaints, then Southeast Region.

DEP Water Quality Complaint Hotline – Daytime

 

484-250-5991

 

Weekdays 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

DEP 24-Hour Water Quality Hotline

 

484-250-5900
or 1-866-255-5158 (toll free)

 

Anytime, including evenings
and weekends

Spills and other Emergencies Hotline

 

PA DEP 484-250-5990

 

PA Emergency Mgt. Agency
1-800-424-7362

Off site discharge of sediment

 

Delaware Co. Conservation District
610-892-9484

 

Send photo, full address,
and directions

Clogged or leaking sewer lines

 

Chadds Ford Township Sewer

Authority

610-388-6338, x4

 

After hours call 911

Fish Kills, Illegal Fishing

 

PA Fish and Boat Commission
717-626-0228

 

Also call DEP Water Quality
484-250-5991

Dry weather outfall flows

 

Chadds Ford Township 
610-388-6368

 

Weekdays during working hours

Broken  water mains

 

Chester Water Authority

 610-876-8181

 

24 hour