Like cities across the country, Harrisburg faces the challenge of upgrading and maintaining water and sewer infrastructure built decades ago. City Beautiful H2O is our response to these problems.

In 2015, Capital Region Water began developing a plan to reduce runoff pollution entering Paxton Creek and the Susquehanna River, improve operation and controls of the system, and implement early action projects under the federal Clean Water Act and the PA Clean Streams Law.

The Problems

Over half of Harrisburg’s sewer pipes are part of a combined sewer system that conveys polluted stormwater runoff and sewage in the same pipes for treatment. In wet weather, stormwater flows exceed system capacity and overflow into Paxton Creek and the Susquehanna River.

Our Solutions

Parking lots, roads, and other hard surfaces generate a lot of stormwater and contribute to sewer overflows. Trees and gardens can collect this stormwater and absorb it into the ground. A key component of our CBH2O plan is green infrastructure: trees, gardens, and other technologies designed to help reduce stormwater runoff by absorbing or storing for slow release.

The Program

The City Beautiful H2O Program Plan is Capital Region Water’s responsible approach to addressing a combination of system-wide infrastructure deterioration and failure with high-priority water quality compliance activities. Capital Region Water must balance delivery of reliable service with Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and Commonwealth Clean Streams Law obligations in a manner our ratepayers can afford.

What’s Next

Capital region water is taking a community-based approach to investing in green infrastructure. We are working across the region to implement green infrastructure that enhances neighborhoods and builds on community assets.

Helpful Documents

Discover all that Capital Region Water has to offer through the City Beautiful H2O program. All the information and forms you’ll need can be found here.

Rules & Regulations

The Wastewater and Stormwater Rules and Regulations are set to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the facilities and infrastructure necessary to serve ratepayers.

Stormwater Compliance

The Manual provides guidance for the applicant to comply with the Stormwater Regulations and design criteria for Development, Stormwater Retrofits, and other construction projects.

MS4 Program

The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program, is mandated by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), then reviewed and managed through Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (Pa DEP).

Report Illicit Discharge

To report a discharge or pollutants, please complete this form or call our Customer Service Center 888-510-0606. Our office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

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