Aboveground disposal: what is a groundwater requirement?

• A. The carcass must not come into contact with surface or groundwater.
• B. The carcass must be connected to a drainage system.
• C. Groundwater contact is allowed if sealed.
• D. Groundwater concerns are not addressed.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is protecting water resources by preventing any liquid from carcasses from reaching water. For aboveground disposal, the requirement is that the carcass must not come into contact with surface or groundwater. If liquids from the carcass could reach water, they could carry pathogens, nutrients, or contaminants into streams or into the groundwater, posing environmental and public health risks. Linking the carcass to a drainage system would create a pathway for contamination to move off-site, and saying groundwater contact is allowed if sealed assumes a perfect seal, which isn’t reliable in practice. Saying groundwater concerns aren’t addressed ignores essential environmental protections. So, the best rule is to keep the carcass completely away from surface and groundwater.