Question

Plastic _______ the percolation of water into the soil and prevents the replenishment of groundwater.
A. increases
B. reduces
C. doesn’t affect
D. varies

Answer 1

Hint: Think about the nature of plastic and how it repels water. Also consider how percolation plays a role in the replenishment of groundwater.

Complete step by step solution:
Percolation means the slow passing of a liquid through a filter. In this question, the fluid in question is water that is present in the surface of land and the filter is all the soil, dirt, gravel, and stones that are found in the ground. Water percolates though the soil and gets collected in an aquifer where the base is made up of impervious rock and no water could pass through. These aquifers then contribute in maintaining the ground water level.
For the water to reach the aquifers, it needs to pass through many layers of soil without coming across any impervious materials that will hinder its descent. Encountering such impervious material will inhibit the water from reaching the ground-water aquifers.
Plastic is a highly impervious material and is used to make many water-proof items. Hence, if water from the surface comes across any plastic, it will not be able to percolate further and reach the ground water. Thus, the percolation of water will be reduced and the groundwater will not be replenished.
Hence, the answer is ‘B. reduces’

Note: Since plastics are non-biodegradable, they will stay in the soil for a long time, obstructing the path of percolating water and hindering the replenishment of groundwater. Thus, it is better not to use any plastic materials even while laying pipelines.