WSP00180 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. . t..I.) ~ w w CHAPTER II. REUSE OF SALINE liATER The concept of reusing water made saline by previous municipal, industrial and agricultural uses is an outgrowth of the realities of water supply in the Coltirado River Basin and the expanding understand- ing of the costs of increasing salinity in the River. This chapter will trace the legal and institutional framework developing for salinity con- trol and water reuse, the role of the seven basin states in addressing salinity issues, and the penalty costs to users of saline water which in turn establish the benefits of salinity control, Much of the data presented here summarizes work done in previous studies and is synopsized for the convenience of the reader, It also provides a logical background for development of a financial incentives system to encourage reuse in specific industrial development, Legal Framework The legal system is conveniently divided into two parts: that which mandates control of salinity in the Colorado River and that which may constrain or control implementation of water reuse. Mandates for salinitv control. The increasing salinity of the Colorado River was recognized as a regional problem during 1966 and 1967 meetings of the seven state governments of the Basin. In 1971, EPA pub- lished The Mineral Quality Problem in the Colorado River Basin pinpoint- ing the various sources of salt loading and reasons for salt concentra- tion, This report was followed by the 1972 Amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (P.L, 92-500) which were aimed at preventing further degradation of U,S. waters. For the Colorado River this meant maintaining average annual salinity at or below 1972 levels. By 1973 the salinity problem became one of national concern as the "13ermanent and Definitive Solution to the International Problem of the Colorado River" (Minute 242)1 was negotiated between the United States and Mexico. Minute 242 obliged the United States, in addition to delivering 1.5 maf of Colorado River water per year to Mexico, to main- tain the average annual salinity at no more than 115 t 30 ppm more than the water at Imperial Dam--the last U.S. diversion. This quality obli- gation reinforced the "national obligation" aspects of delivery of water to Mexico stated in the 1968 Colorado River Basin Project Act. ~inute 242, International Boundary and Water Commission of the United States and Mexico, August 30, 1973. U.S. Dept. of State, Treaties and Other International Acts Series, No. 7708. II-I