As Brentwood grew from a rural outpost to a dense suburb, humans made profound changes to the natural environment. The development of streets and structures significantly altered the methods by which water is disbursed following a rain or snow event. In an undisturbed landscape, most precipitation either infiltrates the soil and collects in underground aquifers or is evaporated into the atmosphere. However, the construction of impervious surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt, substantially increases the quantity of water that instead flows over the land as runoff. Left uncontrolled, runoff can flood roadways, damage foundations, and erode hillsides, while introducing pollutants into local watersheds.

Brentwood manages a system of storm inlets and drainage pipes designed to collect and convey runoff. Under federal and state law, the Borough is required to operate this system in a manner that not only protects community infrastructure but also reduces threats to water quality. As such, the Borough must annually apply for an MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

In order to maintain its MS4 permit, Brentwood must demonstrate evidence of compliance with six distinct regulations, which are known as minimum control measures. The aggregate application of these principles has been shown to reduce the amount of oil, fertilizers, trash, and other harmful chemicals and sediments that reach rivers and streams.

1. Public education and outreach. Improving water quality is not just a governmental responsibility. Individual residents and property owners can take steps to abate runoff and contamination. For ideas on how to reduce your stormwater footprint, view the educational material available here. Annual MS4 reports are also available here for public consumption.

2. Public participation and involvement. Our annual Redd-Up Day and Community Clean-Up Day are not just about improving municipal aesthetics. Rather, these events are designed to limit the amount of improperly discarded waste that reaches vital

3. Illicit discharge detection and elimination. Borough personnel actively screen outfall areas for signs of illegal discharge.

4. Construction site runoff control. Active construction sites can contain an array of harmful pollutants. So as to prevent contaminated soil and materials from reaching the watershed, Brentwood requires any developer disturbing more than 1,000 square feet of earth to submit an erosion and sediment control plan.

5. Post-construction runoff control. The actions of property developers can have a major impact on runoff flows. Brentwood encourages the incorporation of green stormwater management devices, such as bio-swales and permeable pavements, into new construction projects.

6. Pollution prevention. While expensive capital construction is sometimes necessary to remediate stormwater, municipalities can also reduce contaminant infiltration through changes in operations. For example, by storing rock salt in an indoor storage facility, the Borough is preventing residual amounts of this corrosive material from being washed into inlets.

For over a decade, Brentwood Borough has held off implementing a stormwater management fee. Instead, the Borough has budgeted for and paid for stormwater-related projects and expenditures directly from revenues received through property taxes. This approach allowed us to continue investing in drainage improvements and infrastructure upgrades without creating a separate fee, even as many neighboring municipalities adopted one years ago.

However, rising costs, more frequent and impactful storm events, and increased flooding risks have made it clear that the current approach is no longer sustainable. On top of these challenges, the Borough must comply with strict state and federal stormwater mandates—unfunded requirements that demand significant infrastructure investment. To address these needs fairly and transparently, Brentwood Borough has created a separate Stormwater Authority under the Pennsylvania Borough Code, which will implement a dedicated fee beginning in 2026.

A: State and federal regulations require municipalities to better manage stormwater to reduce flooding, erosion, and pollution in rivers and streams. These are unfunded mandates—meaning the Borough is required to comply, but no direct funding is provided to cover the costs. To meet these obligations in a fair and sustainable way, Brentwood Borough is implementing a Stormwater Management Fee.

A: A fee is the fairest way to pay for stormwater management because it is based on the amount of impervious surface (roofs, driveways, parking lots) that contribute to stormwater runoff. Properties with more pavement and roof area create more runoff and will pay more. Properties with less will pay less. In contrast, a property tax increase would not account for runoff—only assessed property value. Importantly, the fee will also apply to tax-exempt properties such as schools, churches, and nonprofits that typically have the largest parking lots and thus generate the most runoff but do not currently contribute through property taxes.

A: In accordance with the Pennsylvania Borough Code, Brentwood Borough Council created a separate Stormwater Authority to administer the fee and manage stormwater-related projects. This ensures transparency and that every dollar collected through the fee is dedicated solely to stormwater needs.

A: Yes. Many surrounding communities established stormwater fees years ago, including Baldwin Borough, Dormont Borough, Whitehall Borough, and Mt. Lebanon, to name just a few. Brentwood is one of the last communities in our area to adopt this approach.

A: Every dollar collected will go toward stormwater-related expenses, including:

§  Repairing and replacing storm sewers, inlets, and culverts
§  Maintaining stormwater basins and outfalls
§  Complying with state and federal water quality regulations (MS4 Program)
§  Reducing flooding and erosion through infrastructure upgrades
§  Curb and drainage improvements

A: The Stormwater Authority is finalizing the fee structure, but the goal is to keep it modest and fair. For most homeowners the fee will be a flat fixed rate per month ($10 - $14).  Commercial properties and larger residential properties will be based on the amount of impervious area on their property.  This too will be calculated as a fixed monthly fee.  In all scenarios, the fee will be far less than what a comparable tax increase would cost. The reason for this is that unlike property taxes, the fee ensures that ALL properties—including those normally tax-exempt—pay their fair share toward the system.

A: The Stormwater Fee will be included on the monthly Sewage/Refuse bill.  

A: Brentwood Borough has avoided raising taxes for nine years, even as costs for road paving, police vehicles, rock salt, and other essentials have risen significantly. At the same time, the Borough has made major investments in public safety, recreation, and community facilities. Continuing to fund stormwater projects solely out of the General Fund is no longer sustainable. The Stormwater Fee allows the Borough to dedicate resources to this critical need without gutting other services or raising property taxes disproportionately.

A: The Stormwater Authority will finalize the fee schedule and outreach to property owners in advance of implementation. Residents and business owners will be notified via mail and public hearings about how the fee is calculated and the projects it will fund.

We know no one looks forward to new fees, but this is about keeping Brentwood safe and strong. By sharing the responsibility fairly, we can reduce flooding, protect our homes, and continue to enjoy the services and amenities that make our Borough special.