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<br />l-' <br />-J <br />r ,A. <br />00 <br /> <br />in the mountainous areas of the State water quality standards are exceeded in <br />some streanw for various metals including lead, copper, zinc, iron, cadmium and <br />manganese. Sources of the lead, copper and cadmium pollution are primarily <br />natural, however, discharges from inactive or abandoned mines can increase <br />their concentrations significantly. <br /> <br />Salinity in surface waters is a result of salt loading, primarily from <br />agriculture and natural sources, and salt concentration associated with the <br />consumptive use of water. Salt loading is most evident in portions of the <br />Colorado and Arkansas river basins. Tbe impact on beneficial use of water due <br />to salt concentration is most significant in the Arkansas and South Platte <br />rivers in Colorado. Although few uses of water are impaired by salinity in the <br />Colorado Kiver system in Colorado, the salt loading that occurs here has <br />downstream impacts that are of national and international significance. <br /> <br />A) Point Source Problems <br /> <br />Point sourCes of pollution are those which enter a stream or river from any <br />"discernable, confined, and discrete conveyance" such as a ditch,- pipe, or <br />conduit (as defined in the Federal Clean Water Act of 1977). All point <br />sources require a discharge permit as mandated by both Federal and State <br />water quality control legislation. Discharge permits specify the types and <br />quantities of pollutants that may be discharged into the water. <br /> <br />Point source discharges from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment <br />plants are the greatest contributors to water quality problems in streams in <br />Colorado. Most of these facilities are located along the Front Range urban <br />corridor from Pueblo to Fort Collins. Some of the facilities serving the <br />growing metropolitan areas in this corridor are having difficulty meeting <br />stream standards. Historical problems with ammonia removal, fecal coliform <br />counts, and chlorine residuals are being corrected with the upgrading and <br />improved operation of many of the facilities contributing to the problems. <br />Municipsl wastewater facility problems are also aggravated by inadequate <br />capacities of the intercepting sewer lines and treatment plants. <br /> <br />Colorado does not have a large number of major industrial dischargers. Of <br />those that do exist, the most common are mining and milling operations <br />associated with energy and mineral development. Steelmak1ng, petroleum <br />refining, manufacturing and food processing industries are scattered <br />throughout the State. Most of the industrial dischargers along the Front <br />Range send their wastes to public wastewater treatment plants for final <br />treatment prior to discharge. <br /> <br />Minor wastewater facilities constitute the largest group of point source <br />dischargers in Colorado. Included in this category are small treatment <br />plants associated with seasonal resort areas, trailer parks, hotels and <br />restaurants, and numerous sand and gravel operations. Most discharge peonit <br />violations associated with these types of facilities are due to inadequate <br />or improper operation and maintenance practices. <br /> <br />-3- <br /> <br />~, "L <br /> <br />-~. ~L-~ <br />