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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />4It <br /> <br />DRAFT <br /> <br />3. Water and Land Related Environmental Problems <br /> <br />a. General <br /> <br />Present water quality problems in Colorado are due largely to a <br /> <br />o <br />lack of conccrn for the environment on the part of waste water producers. <br /> <br />Progress and economic expansion have historically tended to be placed <br /> <br />ahead of good environmental practice. Treatment and disposal of waste <br /> <br />water was perceived as an unnecessary cost of doing business and often <br /> <br />was only done because of local, state or federal requirements. Over <br /> <br />the past few years and in concert with the new environmental awareness <br /> <br />of the general public, many water quality problems have been solved and <br /> <br />considerable activity is presently under way. Given adequate funding, <br /> <br />proper planning, and continued demands by the public for a good quality <br /> <br />aquatic environment, it is reasonably certain that all but the most <br /> <br />difficult technical, institutional, or <br /> <br />economic problems can be()2~~' <br /> <br />b. Water Pollution <br /> <br />Water pollution occurs because most of the water used is returned <br /> <br />to the water system with added ingredients which alter its quality for <br /> <br />subsequent uses. Into our water go sewage in various degrees of <br /> <br />untreatment, chemicals, detergents, and runoff from farms and feedlots. <br /> <br />Colorado's major water pollution problems are: <br /> <br />(1) Water pollution of the South Platte River. <br /> <br />(2) Water pollution associated with septic tank installations in <br /> <br />mountain cabins and mountain subdivisions. <br /> <br />(3) Mine-waste effluent entering streams and underground waters. <br /> <br />(4) Waste management problems associated with outdoor recreation. <br /> <br />(5) Salinity concentrations in the Colorado and Arkansas Rivers. <br /> <br />The South Platte River is the most polluted stream in the state, <br /> <br />simply because most of Colorado's population, industry, and feedlots <br />