Stormwater Management in Freehold

Stormwater Management Plan

The Freehold Township Storm Water Management Plan was revised in August 2006 by the Freehold Township Engineering Department.

The Municipal Stormwater Management Plan (MSWMP) documents the strategy for Freehold Township ("the Township") to address stormwater-related impacts. The creation of this plan is required by NJ.A.C. 7:14A-25 Municipal Stormwater Regulations. This plan contains all of the required elements described in NJ.A.C. 7:8 Stormwater Management Rules. The plan addresses groundwater recharge, stormwater quantity, and stormwater quality impacts by incorporating stormwater design and performance standards for new major development, defined as projects that disturb one or more acres of land. These standards are intended to minimize the adverse impact of stormwater runoff on water quality and water quantity and the loss of groundwater recharge that provides base flow in receiving water bodies. The plan describes long-term operation and maintenance measures for existing and future stormwater facilities. A "build-out" analysis has been included in this plan based upon existing zoning and land available for development. The plan also addresses the review and update of existing ordinances, the Township Master Plan, and other planning documents to allow for project designs that include low-impact development techniques. The final component of this plan is a mitigation strategy for when a variance or exemption of the design and performance standards is sought. As part of the mitigation section of the stormwater plan, specific stormwater management measures are identified to lessen the impact of existing development.

View the Stormwater Management Plan (PDF)

Stormwater Management Outfall Location Map

View the Stormwater Management Outfall Location Map (PDF).

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

View the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (PDF)

Stormwater Ordinances

Stormwater Regulations

A Guide to Healthy Habits for Cleaner Water

Pollution on the ground, in streets and parking lots, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on lawns are carried by rainwater into storm drains. From there they enter our streams, lakes, groundwater and eventually our bays and oceans. These pollutants not only foul up our recreational waters, but also find their way into our drinking water supplies.

Polluted runoff is one of the largest contributors to the degradation of our streams, etc., and remains one of the greatest threats to clean and plentiful water, and that is why we are asking you to help do something about it. Fertilizer, oil, pesticides, herbicides, detergents, animal waster, leaves, and grass clippings all contribute to polluted waterways, and by sharing a portion of the responsibility and making small meaningful changes in our daily lives, we can help keep these pollutants out of stormwater runoff.

As part of the new Federal Phase II, stormwater regulations and New Jersey's initiative to help clean up its water, Freehold Township and other public agencies have adopted regulations to control pollution in stormwater. Part of the regulations is to adopt ordinances to prohibit various activities that can add to stormwater pollution.

As residents of New Jersey, it is important to remember these easy things you can do to help contribute to restoring the health of our streams.

Limit Your Use of Fertilizers & Pesticides

  • Do a soil test to see if you need a fertilizer
  • Do not apply a fertilizer if heavy rain is predicted
  • Look into alternatives for pesticides
  • Maintain a small lawn and keep the rest of your property or yard in a natural state with trees and other vegetation that require little or no fertilizer
  • If you use fertilizer and pesticides, follow the instructions on the label on how to correctly apply it

Properly Use & Dispose of Hazardous Products

  • Hazardous products include household and commercial cleaning products, lawn and garden care products, motor oil, antifreeze and paints
  • Do not pour any hazardous products down a storm drain. Storms drains are connected to local water bodies, and the water is not treated.
  • If you have hazardous products in your home or workplace, make sure you store or dispose of them properly. Read the label for guidance.
  • Use natural or less toxic alternatives when possible
  • Recycle motor oil
  • If you spill, leak and/or discharge any hazardous waster, use dry clean-up methods such as cat litter or products specifically designed for this purpose

Clean up After Your Pet

  • Freehold Township has a new ordinance regarding pet waste. An example requires pet owners or their keepers to pick up and properly dispose of pet waste dropped on public or private property.
  • Make sure you know the ordinance requirements and comply with them
  • Use newspaper, bags or pooper-scoopers to pick up waste
  • Dispose of the wrapped pet waste in the trash or unwrapped in a toilet
  • Never discard pet waste in a storm drain

Do Not Feed Wildlife

  • Do not feed wildlife, such as ducks or geese, anywhere within the Township

Do Not Litter

  • Place litter in closed trash receptacles
  • Place recyclables in a closed, locking container. Pick up cans, bottles, etc. that may spill out of the recycle bin.
  • Participate in community group cleanups

Dispose of Yard Waste Properly

  • Keep leaves and grass out of the street and do not put leaves out until 7 days prior to pick-up. Do not put leaves closer than 10 feet from a drainage inlet.
  • Use leaves and grass clippings as a resource for compost
  • Use a mulching mower that recycles grass clippings into the lawn

Keep Pollution out of Storm Drainsfish_marker

  • Municipalities and other public agencies are required to mark certain storm drain inlets with messages reminding people that storm drains are connected to local water bodies. Freehold Township has developed our own unique logo, and we have labeled our storm drain inlets.
  • Do not let sewage or other waste flow into a stormwater system

Municipal Stormwater Regulations Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published The Phase II Stormwater Rules in December 1999, and NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has adopted the rules and developed The Municipal Stormwater Regulations Program to implement these rules. The NJDEP has issued the Township a permit, and we have already implemented a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program. The program includes modifying existing Stormwater inlets to prevent floatables from entering the waterways, outfall mapping, local public education, illicit connection removals and improper disposal of waste, to name a few. Freehold Township has also recently adopted several ordinances to comply with the new stormwater regulations.

Further Information