As stormwater travels across the land surface into infiltration BMPs, it can pick up various pollutants and deliver them to the subsurface. The fate and transport of these pollutants into soil, the vadose zone and ultimately groundwater depends on the type and amount of pollutant present, the volume of infiltration, the type of infiltration BMP, and subsurface conditions.

Typical stormwater pollutants

Common stormwater pollutants and their characteristics are described in the table below.

Common pollutants of concern and sources in stormwater runoff