Chester County Water Resources Authority

Notice

Chester County Water Resources Authority is open to the public and will continue to provide all services and programs, though there will be times when our staff will be working remotely. Therefore, we encourage you to look for answers to your questions and concerns online, or send us an email at [email protected]. Should an in-person meeting be required, we urge you to contact us by phone (610-344-5400) or email to schedule an appointment. We will respond as soon as possible.

2022 Current Water Conditions and 2021 Summary Report Available


2022 Current Conditions

As we close out 2022, water levels in Chester County for the past year have been generally above historic averages. With a week left in the year, the National Weather Service reports that Chester County has already received 51.6 inches of rain, which is 4.5 inches more than the historic average of 47.1 inches. Because we started out the year on the dry side, several groundwater well levels continue to reflect this trend and have generally remained below median levels. Information on 2022 water conditions is presented on CCWRA’s Current Water Levels web page.

2021 Summary Report

The Chester County Water Resources Authority’s 2021 Water Conditions Report is now available online at this link. This 24-page report summarizes select precipitation, streamflow, water chemistry, biological, and water supply data collected in 2021 at monitoring stations throughout Chester County. The data presented in this report provide a snapshot of Chester County’s water resources and highlight long-term water quality trends across the County’s many diverse watersheds. 


Chester County Commissioners' Adopt 2022 County-wide Stormwater Management Model Ordinance


The 90-day period for Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to review the final 2022 County-wide Act 167 Stormwater Management Model Ordinance ended on November 24, 2022. Under the Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act (PA Act 167), all Chester County municipalities, both MS4 and non-MS4 permittees, are required to adopt stormwater ordinances consistent with the County's Model Ordinance by May 31, 2023. 

The updated Model Ordinance, summary of changes table, Matrix of Minimum Mandatory Standards, and other resources are available at chesco.org/StormwaterOrdinance. Any questions about the updated Model Ordinance  can be submitted to [email protected]. 

To assist municipalities with updating their stormwater ordinances, CCWRA hosted two implementation workshops in May. 

  • The first workshop was held on May 6. Presentations and a recording of the event can be found at this link.
  • The second workshop was held for May 24 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. You can register to attend this workshop in-person here and to attend virtually via Zoom here. 


Our Programs

Water Resources Plans and Updates Underway

To ensure that our residents and businesses are equipped to respond to evolving water resources needs, Chester County is leading updates to the Watersheds Plan and the County-wide Stormwater Management Plan.

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Water Quality in Chester County

Clean water in our groundwater aquifers, streams and lakes is critical to long-term healthy communities.  Learn about PADEP's assessment program, resources from MS4 municipalities, and information about TMDL pollution reduction programs.

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Flooding and Stormwater Reduction

CCWRA provides information on FEMA floodplains as well as real time stream flood monitoring through a partnership with USGS. The Authority also provides flood protection in the Brandywine Creek watershed through the operation of four flood control dams, and has information on preparing for flooding emergencies.

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Maps, Reports and Data

Find both interactive and print-ready maps on water quality conditions, floodplains, and other key water resources components, as well as reports on water conditions in the County, and various factsheets.

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Get Involved Local Watershed Groups

Chester County is fortunate to have watershed and conservation organizations that are active with on-the-ground improvement projects, outreach and community education.

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Sustainable Water Supply Management

CCWRA assists with sustainable water management by providing reservoir water supplies, through planned and managed water releases from Chambers Lake Reservoir. Learn about our reservoir management as well as water conservation tips.

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