A drain line under a prep sink is leaking sewage-tainted water onto the floor. What is the correct approach to the plumbing?
a.Redirect the leak through a length of hose into the dry-storage room's floor drain
b.Repair the plumbing so it is maintained in good order and prevents contamination and standing water
c.Conceal the puddle beneath a rubber floor mat and mop the area at closing time
d.Position a bucket beneath the leaking joint, emptying it hourly, and continue prepping
Explanation
Plumbing must be designed, installed, and maintained so it does not leak, back up, or create contamination or pooling water. A leaking drain must be repaired promptly because standing wastewater contaminates surfaces and attracts pests. Routing the leak into dry storage moves sewage next to food, a mat hides the puddle while it keeps spreading, and a bucket leaves contaminated water beside an in-use prep sink — none of them is an acceptable substitute for a proper repair.
Law Reference: FDA Food Code §5-205.15Practice all 500 questions free — no signup required.
Own the complete ServSafe Food Protection Manager guide — PDF + EPUB, $19.99 →
Related questions on this topic
- Why should a food establishment hire a licensed Pest Control Operator (PCO) rather than have kitchen staff apply pesticides themselves?
- A high-temp dish machine's data plate lists operating temperatures, but the manager wants to confirm dishes are actually being sanitized. What is a reliable check?
- A busy dishroom crew starts using the designated handwashing sink to rinse mops and thaw a few packs of shrimp. Why is this a problem?
- A manager wants to be sure staff are mixing sanitizer correctly on every shift. What is the most reliable way to confirm concentration?
- Which factor does NOT affect how well a chemical sanitizer works?
- A staff member stores a bottle of drain cleaner on a shelf directly above a bin of flour. What is the risk and correct fix?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass team · Verified against ServSafe Food Protection Manager Exam · How we review