What can happen if a lift station fails?

When a lift station fails, it can lead to significant operational issues within sewage management systems. One of the most serious consequences is that wastewater may overflow into the surrounding environment. This overflow creates environmental hazards, including potential contamination of local water sources, damage to ecosystems, and health risks to the community due to exposure to untreated wastewater.

Additionally, the failure of a lift station disrupts the normal flow of wastewater, leading to backups in the system and exacerbating the problem of overflow. Proper functioning of lift stations is critical to ensuring that wastewater is efficiently transported from lower to higher elevations, especially when gravity flow is not sufficient.

The other options either suggest improvements in wastewater treatment or no significant effects, which do not accurately reflect the serious implications of lift station failures. The correct understanding emphasizes the environmental and public health risks associated with such failures.