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<br />. <br /> <br />tends to increase the concentrations of soluble salts within both surface <br /> <br />and subsurface effluents from an irrigated area, Fertilizers and soil <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />c..J <br />00 <br />o <br />'""'" <br /> <br />amendments also chang. e the quality of the effluent water and sometimes <br />. . <br /> <br />greatly increase the nitrate concentration in the groundwater. Increased <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />utilization of existing supplies through use and reuse of water for <br /> <br />municipal and industrial purposes also concentrates and adds salts <br /> <br />causing a continuing degeneration of water quality. In addition, on the <br /> <br />the water quantity system also brings about a corresponding alteration <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />natural watersheds, salts are leached from rocks and minerals of the <br /> <br />soils by percolating waters and then concentrated by the consumptive <br /> <br />use of water for irrigation, municipal, industrial and other purposes. <br /> <br />In general, any change which brings about a new equilibrium in <br /> <br />in the quality system. In other words, the extent of a change in water <br /> <br />quality depends upon the dynamic characteristics of the hydrologic sys- <br /> <br />temand the prevailing water-use patterns within the basin. An increase <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />in water quantity within a system subject to a particular use pattern <br /> <br />usually improves water quality. By the same token, increased or re- <br /> <br />peated usage of a fixed quantity of water usually degrades its quality. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />This statement is particularly true when conservative substances, such <br /> <br />as salts, are added to the water by use. Thus, the quantity and quality <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />flow systems are closely linked, and management of the quality system <br /> <br />must also consider the quantity or hydrologic system. <br /> <br />lO <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />