Final answer:
The false statement about the consequences of drinking an excessive amount of water is that the person develops hypertension. Instead, excess water is excreted by the kidneys, resulting in increased urine volume, and does not lead to high blood pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a healthy person drinks an excessive amount of water, several physiological responses take place to maintain homeostasis. Diuresis starts about 30 minutes after drinking a large quantity of fluid, and urine production peaks around 1 hour later. Then, under the influence of ADH (antidiuretic hormone), if the body has excess water, ADH secretion will decrease, leading to more water being excreted and a larger urine volume. This urine will typically be lighter in color due to the dilution. Furthermore, the kidneys will act as homeostatic effectors to maintain total body water within narrow limits.
The false statement in the given options is 'E. The person develops hypertension (high blood pressure).' Drinking excessive amounts of water typically does not cause hypertension. Instead, the excess water is directed towards the kidneys to be filtered out, thus increasing urine volume without significantly affecting blood pressure.