ABSTRACT

The pollution aspects of stormwater are related to the substances that become entrained in it from its point of origin to its point of discharge into a water body. Stormwater originates from the clouds and its first contamination is from pollution sources contained within the air we breathe. Most notable and well known is the pollution related to acid rain. Acid rain is generally stormwater that has absorbed airborne contaminants propagated by the burning of sulfur-bearing fuels used for heating and power generation. The oxidation of the sulfur and subsequent reaction with atmospheric water vapor produces sulfuric acid. This is but one example of a mechanism that contributes to the contamination of stormwater. Further details with respect to acid rain and other pathways involving the entrapment of pollutants in stormwater are discussed in Section 19.3.