Which statement best describes the environmental risk of pouring hazardous waste into a storm drain?

Which statement best describes the environmental risk of pouring hazardous waste into a storm drain?

• A. It only affects the immediate vicinity
• B. It has no environmental impact
• C. It can contaminate bodies of water such as lakes or streams
• D. It improves soil fertility

Answer: (C)

Pouring hazardous waste into a storm drain is risky because storm drains are designed to collect rainwater runoff and discharge it directly into nearby bodies of water without treatment. When those wastes enter the runoff, they travel into streams, lakes, and other water bodies, potentially harming aquatic life, degrading water quality, and affecting downstream users. Hazardous substances like oils, solvents, pesticides, and metals can persist in the environment and even bioaccumulate, making the pollution harmful far from the spill site. Since there is typically no treatment step in the storm drain system, the contaminants spread rather than stay localized. The other statements don’t fit because the pollution does not stay confined to a small area, it does have environmental impact, and hazardous waste does not improve soil fertility.

Pouring hazardous waste into a storm drain is risky because storm drains are designed to collect rainwater runoff and discharge it directly into nearby bodies of water without treatment. When those wastes enter the runoff, they travel into streams, lakes, and other water bodies, potentially harming aquatic life, degrading water quality, and affecting downstream users. Hazardous substances like oils, solvents, pesticides, and metals can persist in the environment and even bioaccumulate, making the pollution harmful far from the spill site. Since there is typically no treatment step in the storm drain system, the contaminants spread rather than stay localized. The other statements don’t fit because the pollution does not stay confined to a small area, it does have environmental impact, and hazardous waste does not improve soil fertility.