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<br />o
<br />o
<br />IV
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<br />
<br />of Southern California (Metropolitan) recently refined the estimate of salinity damages for its service
<br />area as an element of a Metropolitan-Reclamation Salinity Management Study, Considering this
<br />work, Reclamation is currently refining the estimate of salinity damages in other portions of the
<br />Lower Colorado River Basin,
<br />
<br />Agricultural water users suffer economic damage as a result of using highly saline waters
<br />through reduced crop yields, added labor costs for irrigation management, and added drainage
<br />requirements, Urban users incur additional costs due to more frequent replacement of plumbing and
<br />water using appliances, use of water softeners and the purchase of bottled water. Industrial users and
<br />water treatment and waste water
<br />utilities incur reductions in the
<br />useful life of system facilities and
<br />equipment from higher levels of
<br />salinity,
<br />
<br />A significant economic
<br />impact in the Lower Basin results
<br />from the regulatory restrictions
<br />imposed by local and regional
<br />water quality standards and
<br />management programs which
<br />protect ground water supplies,
<br />Regulatory agencies have placed
<br />restrictions on reuse or recharge of
<br />waters that exceed specified
<br />salinity levels, If the salinity levels of the Colorado River increase, these regulatory actions result
<br />in additional expensive treatment of water prior to reuse or disposal instead of reuse of the waters,
<br />If disposal options are selected, additional costly water must be developed or imported to meet the
<br />demands previously met or that could be met by water reuse.
<br />
<br />Future Water Depletions
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Damages vs Salinity
<br />
<br />,,$2.0
<br />c
<br />,!l
<br />~ $1.5
<br />-
<br />
<br />,
<br />,
<br />,
<br />I I I I I !
<br />____~----I----~----~----~----+
<br />\ I I \ \
<br />l I I I I
<br />,fot numerla criteria IQvel ( I
<br />I I I I
<br />-I ___ I ___ 1- __~ _
<br />I I I I
<br />At 19~7 ObS8rvll~ levels : \
<br />,
<br />_ _ _..J _ __
<br />,
<br />,
<br />,
<br />,
<br />
<br />
<br />~
<br />1:$1.0
<br />E
<br />..
<br />CI
<br />~$O.5
<br />:5
<br />ii
<br />III $0.0
<br />400
<br />
<br />,
<br />,
<br />,
<br />-i _ _ _ _ + _ _ __
<br />, ,
<br />, ,
<br />, ,
<br />, ,
<br />-l _ _ _ _..\. _ _ __
<br />, ,
<br />I ,
<br />, I
<br />, ,
<br />
<br />
<br />- - - .1- _ _ _ _I. _ _
<br />, ,
<br />,
<br />,
<br />I
<br />
<br />500 600 700 BOO 900 1,000 1,100
<br />Salinity at Imperial Dam (mgIL)
<br />
<br />Figure 2-3
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Projections
<br />
<br />One of the significant factors affecting salinity concentrations is water use, Estimates of
<br />projected water use through the year 2015 were developed by the Basin states for the 1996 Review,
<br />Table 2-2 presents a summary of these estimated water depletions in the Upper Colorado River
<br />Basin, and from the mainstem ofthe Lower Colorado River.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
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<br />
<br />2-6
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