READING, Pa. – The Berks County Commissioners voted Thursday to adopt a resolution to enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Berks County municipalities to participate in the county’s municipal Separate Storm Sewer System steering committee.
The separate storm sewer system is also known at MS4.
MS4 pertains to the stormwater runoff from a municipal storm sewer system, which is related to a system of public storm drains, pipes, curbs and ditches that collect and carry stormwater.
Those systems are separate from the sanitary sewer systems, which means the stormwater is not treated, but is often discharged into local rivers, lakes and streams.
MS4 programs are put in place to regulate the storm water systems to protect water quality by attempting to control pollutants that often wash into those drains.
The purpose of the Berks County steering committee is to collaboratively meet the education requirements for MS4 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
In other business, the commissioners authorized a letter of support for an application from Opportunity House for Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Funding for Opportunity House’s “Hero Hill” project, which is in partnership with Berks County Veterans Affairs Office to bring a solution to the homelessness of veterans.
Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach said the commissioners will be discussing the program in the future and called it a great partnership that has great potential.
Also Thursday, the commissioners declared an emergency due to urgent remediation and repairs needed to the Berks County Jail system driveway and parking lot.
Making the declaration allows the waiving of all procurement requirements and confirm purchase orders issued by the director of contracts and procurement.