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<br /> <br />(".) <br />N <br />o <br />Dl <br /> <br />~~M&BX_~~Q_~Q~YSIO~~ <br /> <br />1. <br /> <br />Irrigation, the artificial application of water to the <br /> <br />land, can result in serious water pOllution problems in the <br />aquatic environment wherever it is practiced. <br /> <br />2. Numerous water quality changes may take place during <br /> <br /> <br />irrigation. The magnitude and nature of these changes are <br /> <br /> <br />functions of mineralization, evaporation, transpiration, ion <br /> <br />exchange., solution, leaching and bioChemical action. <br /> <br />3. Surface runoff water from irrigated lands may be <br /> <br /> <br />expected to contain a mineral composition similar to that of <br /> <br /> <br />the applied water, with a significant increase in <br /> <br /> <br />pesticides, fertilizers, organic debris, soil particles, <br /> <br /> <br />colloids, heavy metals and other pollutants derived from <br /> <br /> <br />accidental or purposeful placement onto the land. <br /> <br />4. Irrigation water which has moved through the soil (deep <br /> <br /> <br />percolation) may become burd~ned with excessive dissolved <br /> <br /> <br />solids, and possibly a change in ionic compOSition. The <br /> <br /> <br />water may also acquire soluble fractions of fertilizers such <br /> <br />as nitrates. A reduction in insoluble nutrients, degradable <br /> <br />pestiCides, oxidizable organics, pathogenic organisms and <br />bacteria can be expected. <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />