IN Peters Township August/September 2016 | Page 17

Periodically, storms of significant magnitude will occur in the region
that will cause isolated flooding in the Township. The type of flooding
typically observed involves basement and garage flooding, as well as
yard/landscape damage.
Following investigation, Township Staff has noted that some flooding
problems are caused by debris in nearby streams that wash down and block
storm drains/pipes. The debris, noted by Township Staff, has been a bit of
everything including grass clippings, building materials, pipes, vases, cut
branches, logs, leaves and more.
It is important to remember: If you live along a stream or adjacent to a
stormwater management facility, make sure both the channel and banks are
clear, and do not use it as a dumping area for materials that will wash
downstream causing problems for both you and your neighbors.

Peters Township budgets at minimum of
$300,000 annually for storm sewer and
stormwater management projects, and is
committed to maintaining and upgrading our
municipal system.

Peters Township | August/September 2016 | icmags.com 15

www.peterstownship.com 724.941.4180

In addition, to reduce the risk of water damage, there are
some preventive measures that property owners can take:
• Make sure your property is graded so that water
drains away from your home.
• Make sure any existing yard drains are not blocked
by leaves and grass clippings.

P E TE RS TOWN SHI P N E WS

Mosquitoes and Ticks are always a
concern during the summer when outdoor
activity is at an all time high. Due to the
mild winter, tick presence has been higher
than in past years throughout the Township
including within many of our parks (Peters
Lake and Peterswood).
“DEP’s Vector Management team’s have
confirmed a high risk of Lyme disease in every
county of the Commonwealth. The first line
of defense against Lyme disease and any
other tick-borne illnesses is avoiding tick
infested areas. We know, however, that as
the weather becomes nicer many residents
spend more time outdoors. We suggest that
people wear protective clothing, use insect
repellent (i.e. DEET), and do a full body check
after spending time outdoors,” says acting
Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine. The study
also confirmed the presence of two other
human pathogen diseases, Babesiosis and
Anaplasmosis, in Pennsylvania blacklegged
ticks. The prevalence rates of these two
diseases were much lower than Lyme disease.
Pennsylvania has reported the most cases of
Lyme disease in the nation for the past five
years. All Pennsylvanians are encouraged to
take precautions to prevent the spread of
tick-borne illnesses.“Parents should check
their children for ticks. Showering within two
hours of outdoor exposure may also help
prevent transmission. If an individual has
been bitten by a tick, we recommend that
they remove the tick carefully with a set of
fine tipped tweezers. If an individual develops
signs and symptoms of Lyme disease after
a tick bite, we urge them to seek medical
attention. Early diagnosis and treatment
of Lyme disease may prevent late-stage
complications,” Dr. Levine says.
Mosquitoes have been a concern relative
to West Nile Virus and now the Zika Virus.
The potential of the Zika Virus in this area is
low. Preventive measures include eliminating
any areas of standing water. If you have
ponds and/or fountains, you should consider
using mosquito dunks or donuts that can be
purchased at many stores in the area. Use
of long sleeve clothing, tight screens over
windows, staying indoor at dusk or dawn
when mosquitoes are most active and using
repellents such as DEET, picaridin or lemon
eucalyptus oil are all recommended safe
measures. You should contact your family
physician for questions about repellents.
Repellents are not recommended for children
under two months.

Dumping Near Streams
May Contribute to Flooding!

Peters Township

ZIKA / Ticks