WEST CHESTER _ Chester County commissioners are working with county municipalities to implement new changes required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in stormwater management.

The Chester County Water Resources Authority has been working with local governments to draft a new municipal stormwater management model ordinance that is required for compliance with state regulations. Once the new ordinance and accompanying PA Act 167 plan are approved by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, they must be adopted by the county commissioners, and then local municipalities will have to adopt the new ordinance regulations and implement the changes.

Through PA Act 167 and other statewide stormwater regulations, Pennsylvania is requiring statewide changes to reduce stormwater and pollutant runoff from future land development projects, and from new or expanded construction on residential, agricultural and commercial properties. The new measures are designed to improve stormwater runoff, flooding and water quality problems across the county and the state, and to help protect areas currently not impacted by stormwater runoff and its pollution.