Which pesticide characteristic contributes to an increased potential for groundwater contamination?

High solubility is a key characteristic that significantly contributes to the potential for groundwater contamination. Pesticides with high solubility can dissolve easily in water, which means they are more likely to leach through the soil and enter groundwater systems. Once these substances permeate the soil layers, there is a greater likelihood that they will travel through the groundwater, potentially affecting drinking water supplies and the broader environment.

In contrast, characteristics such as high adsorption to soil colloids would impede this process, as such pesticides tend to adhere more closely to soil particles rather than moving through them. Likewise, pesticides with relatively quick degradation properties are less likely to persist in the environment long enough to contaminate groundwater, as they break down rapidly. High volatility, while concerning for air pollution and drift, typically does not influence groundwater contamination as it refers to the tendency of a substance to vaporize rather than dissolve in water. Thus, high solubility stands out as the characteristic most closely tied to increased groundwater contamination risk.