Washington State UST Site Assessment Certification Practice Test 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

Secondary containment refers to a system designed to prevent leaks or spills from underground storage tanks (USTs) from contaminating the surrounding environment. This involves a physical barrier or an engineered system that can capture any leaked substances before they have a chance to escape into the soil, groundwater, or surface water.

The importance of secondary containment lies in its role in environmental protection and public health. Regulations often require UST systems to include secondary containment features to minimize the risk of hazardous material leaks. Such systems can include double-walled tanks, berms, containment basins, and other engineered solutions that are specifically designed to handle potential leaks.

Other choices, while potentially relevant to specific aspects of UST systems, do not capture the essential purpose of secondary containment. For example, a backup power source is crucial for the operation of pumps but does not relate to containing leaks. Alternative products for tank linings address material durability and compatibility but are not specifically about preventing leaks. Techniques for emergency spill response are important for addressing spills after they occur, rather than preventing them in the first place, which is the primary function of secondary containment.