For more information on storm water pollution, click images below... What is Stormwater Pollution? Stormwater runoff conveys more than just water to streams, rivers, and lakes. Rain and snowmelt carry dirt, grease, trash and more from roads, parking lots and other hard surfaces into storm drains and ditches, and these empty directly into our waterways. Storm water also carries excess nutrients, like phosphorus, which turns our lakes and streams green and smelly and harms fish. So, the way to protect and clean our waterways is to make sure only rain—and nothing else—goes into the storm drains and ditches.