Question

in all areas of the world, groundwater is an important source of drinking water. however, in many areas, the groundwater is being polluted, mainly by nitrates. sometimes the groundwater is so polluted, it is no longer able to be used as drinking water. what is the most likely source of the nitrate pollutants? a. litter in the form of plastic bottles and aluminum cans b. the abundance of apartment complexes in urban areas c. too many weeds growing near bodies of water d. use of organic fertilizers (manure) in farming

Explanation:

To determine the source of nitrate pollutants in groundwater, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Plastic bottles and aluminum cans (litter) do not contain nitrates, so this is incorrect.
• Option B: Apartment complexes in urban areas are not a direct source of nitrate pollution in groundwater. Urban runoff might have other pollutants, but not nitrates from apartments themselves, so this is incorrect.
• Option C: Weeds growing near water bodies do not introduce nitrates as a pollutant. Weeds might absorb nutrients, but they don't add excess nitrates to groundwater, so this is incorrect.
• Option D: Organic fertilizers like manure contain nitrogen - based compounds. When used in farming, these compounds can leach into the soil and eventually contaminate groundwater with nitrates. This is a common source of nitrate pollution in groundwater.

Answer:

D. use of organic fertilizers (manure) in farming