Which of the following is the BEST explanation for surface water and groundwater pollution?
A. runoff from agricultural, industrial, and residential areas
B. wells drilled in agricultural, industrial, and residential areas
C. drip irrigation from agricultural, industrial, and residential areas
D. power use from agricultural, industrial, and residential areas
A. runoff from agricultural, industrial, and residential areas
This answer best explains surface water and groundwater pollution as runoff from these areas can contain pollutants such as pesticides, fertilizers, chemicals, and waste that can easily flow into surface water sources or percolate into groundwater, leading to contamination. Wells, drip irrigation, and power use may contribute to pollution indirectly but are not the main sources of contamination.