Borough presents 2024 MS4 update; testing identifies localized ammonia and sediment concerns in Outfall 01/2020

Charity Hayne, the borough’s MS4 coordinator, presented the 2024 municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) annual update, reporting routine program activity, illicit‑discharge detection and elimination (IDDE) work and targeted wet‑weather sampling at the large catchment known as Outfall 01/2020.

Hayne said the borough updated stormwater management plan (SWMP) goals, performed public‑works audits and continued post‑construction BMP inspections during 2024. She told council that staff discovered several non‑stormwater discharges during the year — most were educational or minor, such as grass clippings — and described a notable discovery: a laundry discharge pipe that was uncovered during a culvert replacement on Cedar and Lincoln and subsequently capped after coordination with property owners and borough staff.

Outfall 01/2020, a large discharge area draining to Lititz Run, was sampled at several subpoints. Hayne said three sampling points (Manor 1 and 2; Marion and Stark) showed elevated markers: Manor 1 and 2 had ammonia levels higher than typical background expectations; Marion and Stark had elevated sediment. Broad and Marion sampling surprisingly did not show the highest results. Hayne said she had not yet found the expected “smoking gun” source for the elevated fecal‑indicator bacteria flagged in earlier testing and that further wet‑weather sampling lower in the sewer shed is planned.

Hayne described operational constraints that limit wet‑weather sampling — lab hours and short sample hold times for fecal coliform samples — and explained the borough obtained only six set of wet‑weather bottles for the event, which limited the number of locations that could be sampled during the storm.

Hayne and staff have begun a targeted mapping and reconnaissance program (including field checks by borough staff) to better trace pipe runs and unknown inflows into the outfall. She said the borough will continue phased testing, refine maps, work with property owners where data indicate localized issues, and pursue educational outreach — including regional collaboration on salt (chloride) use reduction — to reduce pollutant loads to Lititz Run.

Why it matters: Outfall 01/2020 drains a large area of the borough to Lititz Run; elevated ammonia, sediment and historic fecal‑indicator results indicate a mix of possible sources (fertilizer, failing septic/sewage, sediment transport) and require coordinated investigation and outreach. Hayne said this will be a multi‑year, iterative effort to break down the sewershed and locate sources.