Are sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) effective at retaining dissolved trace elements?

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are increasingly deployed to mitigate against increased trace element contaminant loads associated with urban and road runoff. However, there is a lack of research on their capabilities in removing these trace elements, particularly from the dissolved phase. Water samples were taken, following various rainfall events, from three different SuDS in Devon; one wetland pond adjacent to a busy dual carriageway, a new SuDS serving a housing estate and an established SuDS draining a mixed housing/light industrial area.