Erosion - Removal of soil particles by wind or water .
Eutrophication - Nutrient enrichment ( nitrogen , phosphorus , and carbon ) from sewage effluent , runoff , or atmospheric deposition to surface waters . This process can increase the growth potential for algae and aquatic plants . Excessive eutrophication can leave waterbodies devoid of most life , impede navigation , and result in aesthetic nuisances .
Filter Strip - Grassed strips situated along roads or parking areas that remove pollutants from runoff as it passes through , allowing some infiltration , and reductions of velocity .
Floatables - Materials found in runoff that are buoyant , such as polystyrene , plastic , some organic material , or cigarette butts .
Groundwater - Water that flows below the ground surface through saturated soil , glacial deposits , or rock .
Hydrology - The science addressing the properties , distribution , and circulation of water across the landscape , through the ground , and in the atmosphere .
Illicit connection - Any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer that is not composed entirely of stormwater and is not authorized by an NPDES permit , with some exceptions ( e . g ., discharges due to firefighting activities )
Illicit discharges - Discharges of non-stormwater to the storm drainage system . Examples are discharges from internal floor drains , appliances , industrial processes , sinks , and toilets that are connected to the nearby storm drainage system . These discharges should be going to the sanitary sewer system , a holding tank , an on-site process water treatment system , or a septic system .
Impervious surface - A surface that cannot be penetrated by water such as pavement , rock , or a rooftop and thereby prevents infiltration and generates runoff .
Imperviousness - The percentage of impervious cover within a defined area . Impoundment - A natural or man-made containment for surface water .
Infiltration - The process or rate at which water percolates from the land surface into the ground . Infiltration is also a general category of BMP designed to collect runoff and allow it to flow through the ground for treatment .
Integrated Pest Management ( IPM ) - The practice of using biological and physical measures to control pests while minimizing or eliminating the use of synthetic chemical pesticides .
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