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<br />o <br />N <br />I--'- <br />CO <br /> <br />. . <br /> <br />The mean salinity is 18 648 mg/L for Glenwood Springs water and 9295 mg/L for Dotsero Springs <br />water. Quality analyses for both areas indicate that saline springs waters are domi-nated by sodium <br />and chloride (90 percent of TDS) and contain large concentrations of calcium and sulfate. The source <br />of these ions is dissolution of halite and gypsum/anhydrite beds in the Eagle VaHey Evaporite by <br />circulating meteoric water. <br />The elevated temperatures of the Glenwood, 41. 7 C, and Dotsero, 29.5 C, springs waters <br />may result from deep circulation through a normal geothermal gradient or from the presence of an el- <br />evated geothermal gradient, as evidenced by recent volcanic activity and other thermal springs and <br />weHs in the study area. <br />Springs and flowing weHs in outcropping portions of Leadville Limestone indicate that <br />recharge takes place away from these outcrops and in elevated interior portions of the study area. The <br />very similar ionic .contents of Glenwood and Dotsero spring waters require either common recharge <br />areas or different recharge areas with the same lithoiogic characteristics. Probable areas of recharge <br />are in the northeastern and southern portions of the study area. These areas possess structural, topo- <br />graphic, and lithologic attributes that may explain the physical and chemical properties of the <br />Glenwood and Dotsero springs. <br />Recharge probably infiltrates downward along deep faults or volcanic necks. Downward <br />migrating water contacts halite and gypsum deposits of the Eagle VaHey Evaporite, acquiring high <br />ings waters may result from deep circulation through a normal geothermal gradient or from the <br />presence of an elevated geothermal gradient, as evidenced by recent volcanic activity and other <br />thermal springs and weHs in the study area. <br /> <br />The combined flow rate of the 14 identified springs was 0.296 m3/s (10.46 ft3/s1. The char- <br />acteristics of these springs included: <br /> <br />Temperature range. 25 to 51 oC (77to 124 oF). <br />pH: 6.6 to 7.6. <br />TDS: 18 780 mg/L <br />Cations: Sodium, 90%; Calcium, 7%; Potassium, 2% <br />Anions: Chloride, 83.9 Sulfate; 10.2%; Bica rbonate, 6.0%. <br /> <br />Because of the high bicarbonate content of GS water, calcium could be reduced from 470 to <br />238 mg/L by neutralization with lime (calcium hydroxide) to precipitate calcium carbonate. The trace <br />metals and trace anions were less than 0.1 mg/L. The raw water exceeded or approached the limits of <br />toxicity for drinking water for cadmium, chromium. fluoride, and selenium. However, chemical <br />pretreatment and desalting necessary to bring water to below TDS limits would reduce cadmium. <br />chromium. fluoride, and selenium below limits. <br />The salt load for the 14 Glenwood springs was 174,700 metric tonnes (192,570 tons) annu- <br />ally. !t was estimated in the PIQR that the identified springs accounted for only 50 percent of the salt <br />load produced by the Dotsero and Glenwood Springs. <br /> <br />A-7 <br /> <br />, <br />