WSP00693

• File Number: 8112.600
• Description: Arkansas White Red Basins Interagency Committee - AWRBIAC -- Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 6/1/1955
• Title: Arkansas-White-Red River Basins - Part II - Section 9 - Water Pollution Control
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Of special importance are the mineral and sediment content resulting
from natural sources, and the. salinity oontent due to brine wastes
from oil and g;as field' operations. Damaging quantities of natural
mineral salts are contributed by some tributaries of the Arkansas
and Red Rivers. .These include the Salt Fork, C1marron, and Canadian
which drain to the Arka:nsas Ri-ver. Gypsum and salt deposits in the.
western part of the Red River Basin contribute mineral polluti91J. .to
that river through the Prairie Dog Tovm Fork, Pease River; . andt1i.a
North Fork and the Salt Fork. A major part of the sediment load is
contributed to the Arkansas River from above the Arkansas-Oklo.holllll.
State line. The South Canadian River Basin contributes ti.major' part
of this type of pollution, and heavy sediment loads arealilo oarried
by the' Red River above Den~son Dam. 1\lajor tributilriesdf,the Arkansas
River carrying a heavy oil field brine pollution load include the'
Canadian Md Cimarron Rivers. The water quality in the Red River
Basin is also seriously .affeoted by oil field brines, and the principal.
tributaries contributing this type of pollution inolude Cypress Creek,
Sulphur River,. Lit.tleRiver, V1ashita River, and the Ouachita. River..

Ground waters of poor 'quality due to natural .pollJtion 'oocur
in muoh of the area in the basins. Exoessive fluoride oontent has' been
repo~ted'irt' oertain locations in all the States of the 'basins 'ex~ept
Louisiana. Hydrogen sulfide content in deep wall supplies '1)a.s been
encountered. in the Kansas-Missouri-Oklahoma area. Exces~i~ salinity
content has been daused by seepage from oil field brine storage ponds
buil~ on' porous soil. artesian brine seepage from improperlyp1ugged
oil ,:~ens~ :~d' lefJ,lcage from active wells. Unierground conta.mination
from 'improperly plugged weI1s hus occurred in the Canadian River Basin, .
particulaily in areas east and southeast of' Oklahoma City.

No large soale measures designed specifically to COntrol
natural salinity are l<nol'lnto exist in the basins. HOIVever,reservo~-
impoundment and other stream flal" regulatory mea:sures are helpful in
alleviating the har:mi'ul effects of salinity. SedJ.m9nt .controlme'a.8u.rea
in use include various soil conservation praot!ces. river banlc stabi-
Ullation ac-tivities. waterflaw retardation practices in hea;dwiiters
areas, and res.ervqirs.

. Althou1;h most of the nnmicipalities ill the basins'dnd SOIllfl
of' the ind.u.strio.l esto.blishm:mts have' some type of water treatment
facility, t'here. is indicated an immedia.te neod for new facilities
where treatment is not. nail provided and for expansion or,improvemen-rt
at others to render them adequate for protection' of receiVing waters.
Eighty-two nnmicipll-Hties having a s6Vlered populationCif 298,600 IlBed
new plants for trell-trnant of waS'~es at present discharged rawJ 186 with
a sewered population of 907.600 need enlargement or additions to exist- .
ing plants .to increase capacities. improve operation, or to praV'ide
secondary treatment; 13 with a' sewered po pul ati on of 101.500 _ need re-
placement of existing plants; 368 with a sevrered population of 1,662.500
require no improvements; .and the needs of 50 nnmicipalities s-erving
384,800 are undetermined.

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