Saturated hydraulic conductivities and intrinsic permeabilities were evaluated for eight contrasting soils with four organic liquids and water. The organic liquids were kerosene, ethylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol and xylene. Intrinsic permeability for any given soil varied inversely with the dielectric coefficient--water gave the lowest value. The mechanism is apparently related to the double-layer phenomena with water leading to the most dispersed system. A multiple regression analysis related intrinsic permeability to silt, dielectric coefficient, clay and bulk density with a goodness of fit (R) of 0.74. An analysis of all the non-aqueous liquids, with water permeability as a dependent variable, resulted in an R of 0.84. The study has relevance with regard to movement of such organics in soils either as a pollutant or as a solvent carrying pollutants. (Copyright (c) Hazardous Waste & Hazardous Materials, 1986.)