Injection wells can be used to pump fluid deep underground. These wells are often used as a waste disposal method for many different types of waste products such as chemical waste. A scientist discovers that the chemical waste that was injected into a local injection well has started seeping into the groundwater of a nearby aquifer. The groundwater is used as a source of drinking water for many nearby communities.
Which of the following measures should be taken in order to ensure that the biodiversity of the ecosystem is maintained and that the drinking water in the aquifer is safe for surrounding populations?
A.
The injection well should be abandoned, and signs should be placed around the injection site to warn people to stay away.
B.
All of the water in the aquifer should be removed, and future chemical waste should be pumped directly into the abandoned aquifer.
C.
The injection well should be fixed or closed down, and all water exiting the aquifer should be tested for quality before being used by human populations.
D.
All of the water in the aquifer should be treated with a chemical to purify it, but no changes should be made to the injection well.
