WSP12324

• File Number: 8281.960
• Description: Colorado River Studies and Investigations -- Lower Colorado Comprehensive Framework Study
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 6/1/1971
• Title: Lower Colorado Region Comprehensive Framework Study -- Appendix XV - Water Quality - Pollution Control and Health Factors
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Electric Power Production

A 28-fold increase in electric power plant capacity is
projected by the year 2020. Nuclear-fueled thermal power
generating will provide an estimated 60 percent of the electric
power in the year 2020, while fossil-fueled thermal power will
provide an estimated 27 percent. The remaining 13 percent will
be produced by hydroelectric works.

With the tremendous thermal pollution potential of the
projected power production, it is exceedingly fortunate that
waste heat from power generation is amenable to treatment or
control at a reasonable cost. Information presented in the
Electric P~ler APPindix indicates that use of cooling ponds or
towers is plannea or-:tuture power generating works.

The selection of appropriate sites for locating power plants
so as to minimize environmental damage poses a significant
challenge to ,both the industry and government. Environmental
concerns will necessitate the consideration of many more factors
in the planning of power production facilities than has been
the practice in the past. In addition to thermal pollution
control, a number of other selection factors make siting very
complicatted--aesthetic impact, available of water supply, safety,
air pollution~ontrol, access to transportation and others.
Installation of facilities, such as cooling towers, to control
thermal pollution will affect cost factores and require more
space for the plant and may make it more difficult to meet
aesthetic goals. Siting is likely to become an increasingly
difficult and ,controversial factor in the continued growth of
power production. Planning for electric power plant siting
should be expanded with the ultimate objective of developing a
long range siting plant.

Health Factors

Data on morbidity and mortality indicate that rates of
occurrence of potentially water-borne disease for the Region are
higher than national rates. Better epidemiological data are
needed to assess what portion of these disease occurrences are
due to water-borne pathogens. The fact that infectious diseases
are present emphasizes the need for continued vigilance in the
areas of vector control, drinking water supplies and recreational
areas.

A large portion of the Region's population presently depend
on potable water supplies that do not meet the requirements of
the U.S. Public, Health Service Drinking Water Standards. Dissolved
solids concentrations in some well systems are triple the 500 mg/l
recommended limit set forth in the standards. Many surface supplies
periodically exceed the standards for dissolved solids.

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