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<br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />(,,:~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />~A) <br /> <br />CHAPTER VI <br />WATER QUALITY RELATED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS <br /> <br />ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS <br /> <br />Salinity as an Economic Problem-A Market Failure <br /> <br />While a number of water quality problems are of concern, as an <br /> <br />economic problem the increasing salinity in the Colorado River is most <br /> <br />important. In the Lower Colorado Basin there are increasing difficulties <br /> <br />with rising salinity, over time. High salinity imposes costs on users <br /> <br />of water both in the United States and Mexico. Internationa 1 and domestic <br /> <br />relations have been strained because of the decreased productivity and <br /> <br />increased costs. Three factors suggest diminished water value: <br /> <br />(l) High concentrations of salt may limit and restrict uses to which <br /> <br />water may be productively put or make it more costly to use (e. g., salty <br /> <br />water may be used only to irrigate salt-tolerant crops or reduce the <br /> <br />productive life of pipes, machninery and equipment), (2) Highly <br /> <br />saline water may have to be reclaimed before it is usable at all, (e. g. , <br /> <br />for human consumption in domestic use), and (3) Saline water may be <br /> <br />esthetically objectionable in use (e. g., salty water may reduce the utility <br /> <br />of swimming or water skiing or there may be water spots on cars and <br /> <br />dishes). <br /> <br />The salinity problem in the Colorado River Basin is an interesting <br /> <br />and difficult challenge to policy makers. The well-being of some users <br /> <br />.".,."" <br />