18990_Authority_Feb_2026

Lower Allen Township Stormwater Authority: Building Partnerships for Cleaner Water Establishing LATSA The Lower Allen Township Stormwater Authority (LATSA) was established in 2018 by the Board of Commissioners to ensure the Township’s Stormwater infrastructure remains reliable and that water quantity and quality are effectively managed. LATSA funds essential activities such as infrastructure repair and replacement, compliance with state and federal Clean Water Act requirements, and the design and construction of capital improvement projects—all supported through a stormwater fee. Meeting Clean Water Act Requirements One of LATSA’s first major responsibilities was implementing a Pollution Reduction Plan (PRP) to reduce sediment entering the Township’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). After careful evaluation, LATSA determined that the most effective strategy was to retrofit existing detention basins into bioretention facilities. The PRP called for ten basin retrofits, six of which were privately owned by businesses and homeowner associations. This presented a significant challenge: negotiating easement and maintenance agreements to allow the Township to complete the retrofits and maintain the basins long-term. Community Outreach and Collaboration To overcome these challenges, LATSA and Township staff launched an extensive outreach effort. They met with property owners to explain the environmental benefits of the retrofits and shared detailed maps, calculations, designs, and maintenance plans. These meetings aimed to build trust and secure buy-in so the Township could meet its PRP goals. While some discussions were straightforward, others required multiple meetings and careful negotiation. Throughout the process, staff remained attentive to property owners’ concerns and provided clear explanations of how the basins would function after redesign and how the Township would handle ongoing maintenance. Turning Challenges into Success What began as a challenging endeavor ultimately became a success story. After years of education, outreach, and collaboration, all six private property owners agreed to move forward with the retrofits and signed easement and maintenance agreements with LATSA and the Township. Incentives and Partnerships An additional incentive helped drive participation: LATSA’s Stormwater fee credit policy. This program offers fee reductions to property owners who install and maintain structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce stormwater volume. The bioretention facilities qualified under this policy, providing owners with credit on their quarterly stormwater fees. The Township also secured grant funding for several project sites, thanks to partnerships with local nonprofit organizations. These collaborations strengthened grant applications and demonstrated community support, further advancing the success of the PRP initiative. S By Barbara Arnold, Environmental Programs Manager, Lower Allen Township