What is a common risk of improper pipe sizing in a collection system?

Improper pipe sizing in a collection system can lead to inadequate capacity for stormwater management. When pipes are not sized correctly, they may not be able to handle the volume of water during heavy rainfall or storm events. This can result in overflow situations, where excess water exceeds the capacity of the pipes, leading to flooding and potential damage to surrounding areas. Furthermore, inadequate capacity can cause backups in the system, which may compromise the integrity of the collection infrastructure and create public health risks due to the overflow of untreated sewage or stormwater.

The other choices are not realistic outcomes of improper pipe sizing. Improved water quality typically requires sufficient pipe size to transport waste effectively, and sizing errors often lead to decreased, not increased, efficiency in flow management. Lower maintenance costs may occur if a system is well-designed, but improper sizing usually increases maintenance demands due to frequent issues associated with inadequate capacity.