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<br />0') <br />C\J <br />~ <br />C\I <br />o <br />o <br /> <br />The Safe Drinking Water Act requires continuous monitoring <br />through tests perfo~ed by the Texas Department of Health Re- <br />sources. Water quality must satisfy the tolerances established <br />1>,y'the Act and reflected in the tests. Increases ~n fixed costs <br />for the mandatory facil~ties are anticipated along with ir~reases <br />in variable operating costs. These increased costs will result <br />in increased per-connection costs to users which are' in many in- <br />stances below the poverty level income. <br /> <br /> <br />An estimated 504 Texas systems (serving populations below <br />2,500) are deemed economically infeasible for imprqyement u~der <br />requirements of the Interim Primary Standards. Almost all <br />of the systems in need of improvement do not comply with the fluoride <br />requirements. A large number of systems suffer from nitrate contamin- <br />ation. The population served by the above systems was estimated to <br />be 500,000 persons. <br /> <br />lf the contaminants cannot be removed through the installation <br />of equipment financed through local taxes or revenue, some form of <br />public assistance will be required. Many of the systems in need of <br />treatment facilities are currently ineligible for loans, and grants <br />from the Federal government. At present, the State cannot directly <br />assist private water systems. Population served by the non-complying <br />systems are in danger of water supply loss. The severity of th$ <br />problems associated with the Safe Drinking Water Act are also ~ncrea.s- <br />ing since many rural areas are gaining from out-migration from urban <br />areas. <br /> <br />Problem Area 5,'ASA 1302 (Texas), 1303, and 1305. Flood problems <br />and hurricanes. <br /> <br />Flooding occurs when streamflow exceeds the channel capacity. <br />Historically throughout the State of Texas, floods have resulted <br />in the loss of human life, as well as caused serious economic <br />damages to urban areas, to agriculture, and to transportation and <br />utilities industries. Because of the wide variations in climate and <br />physiography of Texas, the magnitude and character of floods <br />differ widely, both within and among the major river basins. <br /> <br />In the central and western portions of the ,Rio Grande in Texas <br />(ASA 1302, 1303, and the upper part of 1305), ground and tree cover <br />is sparse. Stream slopes vary from ste~p to moderately steep. During <br />periods of intense rainfall, runoff is rapid, with high peak flows, <br />high stream velocities and shorter periods of 1andinundations. Flood <br />frequency and estimated damages are documented by the U.S. Corps of <br />Engineers (Table 4). <br /> <br />31 <br /> <br /> <br />"'J. <br /> <br />.'.'<' <br /> <br />~.- <br /> <br />i.". <br /> <br /> <br />'0' /' <br /> <br />',' '--, <br />."1''- -.' <br /> <br />.;, 'I_-",~: -.:,:m:;';',:-;~,;'<1~'>:" :'~,~".~;~' .'; " 0:_ ",' , <br />;~[:'~." .< <br /> <br /><<:?-~~ <br /> <br />"""C.' <br />:',::..,:".:' <br />