Abington Township just issued a rather useful and important reminder to its residents that’s worth sharing with the entire area.

Don’t dump anything into storm drains. If it doesn’t fall out of the sky, it doesn’t belong in the drain.

The township also encourages that residents report anyone they see dumping refuse of any kind into the drains.

In Abington, if you see someone doing so, call the Engineering and Code Department to report it at 267-536-1011. 

In Jenkintown, call 215-885-0700.

In Cheltenham, call 215-887-6200.

Unlike pollution from industry or sewage treatment facilities, which is caused by a limited number of sources, stormwater pollution is caused by the daily activities of people everywhere. Concentrated development in urbanized areas substantially increases impervious surfaces, such as streets, driveways and parking lots.  These surfaces are the primary collector of pollutants until a rain washes them into nearby storm drains. 

Many people do not realize that storm drains do not run to treatment plants, they empty directly into our waterways!  For this reason, we have been placing “No Dumping” markers on the stormwater inlets throughout the Township.  Eventually all of the stormwater runoff from Abington Township ends up in the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers.

This action is prohibited by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and local ordinances. 

For further information, click here.