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<br />0919 <br /> <br />Scope <br /> <br />All 338 samples collected during the 4-year study were analyzed for major <br />anions, major cations, selenium, and arsenic. Water-quality data in this re- <br />port are presented in two tables, and are keyed by numbers to site locations <br />on plates 1 and 2. Analyses of ground-water samples, including springs, are <br />summarized in table 1 at the back of the report. Analyses of surface-water <br />samples collected from streams on the reservation are summarized in table 2 <br />at the back of the report. <br /> <br />Acknowledgments <br /> <br />The authors express their appreciation to Mr. Leonard Burch, chairman of <br />the Southern Ute Tribal Council, and to Mr. Chris A. Baker, vice chairman, for <br />providing hydrologic field assistants who aided U.S. Geological Survey person- <br />nel in the collection of basic data. Throughout the 4-year investigation, un- <br />der the general guidance and assistance of Mr. John Williams, who represented <br />the Southern Ute Tribal Council, Messrs. Everett Burch, Roderick Williams, <br />Ivan Red, Elliott Cloud, and Raymond Frost helped obtain well data and sample <br />wells. Their linguistic abilities in English, Ute, and Spanish proved to be <br />of great assistance in discussing the investigation with the many land owners. <br />Messrs. Raymond DeKay, Robert Tsiosdia, and officials and employees of the <br />U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs at Ignacio, Colo., and Albuquerque, N. Mex., <br />provided administrative support during the investigation; laboratory support <br />was provided by personnel at Gallup, N. Mex. <br /> <br />RELATION OF DATA TO DRINKING-WATER STANDARDS <br /> <br />The potability of ground water and surface water on the reservation can <br />be determined by comparing the chemical data in tables 1 and 2 with the rec- <br />ommended drinking-water-quality standards of the Colorado Department of Health <br />(1971) and the U.S. Public Health Service (1962) presented on page IV at the <br />front of the report and immediately below the column headings in tables 1 and <br />2. Many of the analyses indicated that some chemical constituents occur in <br />excess of the standards. Although the concentrations of some constituents ex- <br />ceed the standards, they do not necessarily indicate a health hazard. For ex- <br />ample, high dissolved-solids concentrations may impart a noticeable taste to <br />the water supply_ High iron and manganese concentrations may cause coloring <br />of utensils and fixtures and impart a disagreeable taste to water. High flu- <br />oride concentrations can cause permanent discoloration and mottling of chil- <br />dren1s teeth. However, in proper concentrations, fluoride can prevent tooth <br />decay. Magnesium and sulfate concentrations in excess of the standards may <br />have a laxative effect on people. <br /> <br />Concentrations of selenium, arsenic, nitrate, and nitrite-pIus-nitrate as <br />nitrogen in excess of the standards can constitute a health hazard (Colorado <br />Department of Health, 1971, and U. S. Public Health Service, 1962). Selenium <br /> <br />3 <br />