Storm water runoff is rain and melting snow that flows off building rooftops, driveways, lawns, streets, parking lots, construction sites, and industrial storage yards. Developed areas are covered by impervious surfaces roads, rooftops, parking lots and other hard surfaces that do not allow stormwater to soak into the ground). Storm sewers are used to collect large amounts of runoff from streets and parking lots. Increasing development over the years has had a great impact on stormwater runoff; more impervious surfaces increase the rate of stormwater runoff. Along the way, this “runoff” picks up contaminants such as fertilizers, soil and other sediment, pet waste, and vehicle wash-off, such as oil and toxic metals; all of which end up in the waters that we use for drinking, swimming, fishing, etc.

On January 5, 2004, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection adopted significant changes to the rules governing stormwater management in New Jersey. These new rules created the Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program, which requires municipalities to apply for and obtain a permit for stormwater discharges from their municipal separate storm sewer systems, or MS4s to surface water bodies like the Arthur Kill, Morses Creek,  Peach Orchard Brook, and their tributaries. Under the terms of the permit, every municipality in New Jersey was required to develop a plan to implement various strategies to reduce the number of pollutants entering our storm sewer (drainage) systems.

This page has been developed, maintained, and updated by the Borough of Roselle Park. Here, you can find important information about how you, as a resident of our Borough, can best facilitate proper stormwater flow.