Which of the following is true concerning sources of water pollution? a) mine wastes and heavy metals become water pollution through storm water runoff. b) biodegradable materials like food, wood, and leaves are not considered pollution. c) petroleum byproducts and fuels end up as pollution principally from oil spills. d) pesticides and herbicides do not commonly become water pollutants. e) polluted and contaminated precipitation pollutes lake water.

This is a tricky one and it's important to note that the question relates specifically to water pollution.we can discount a, regarding mine wastes and heavy metals. whilst it is true that heavy metals do contaminate the ground water supply, the mechanism is not via storm water run off (which is surface run off from roads etc), it is leaching directly into the ground at landfills etc.we can probably discount b, relating to biodegradable materials because whilst food waste could be called pollution in some contexts, it does not affect water pollution.we can discount c relating to petroleum byproducts because their pollution is not principally from oil spills, it is through production of greenhouse gases by combustion.we can discount d relating to pesticides and herbicides because they do in fact become a water pollutant and the questions states they do not.this leaves the final answer e, polluted/contaminated precipitation pollutes lake water. this is true. rain can be contaminated by factory smoke and various pollutants, this can then pollute soils and surface systems like lakes.