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..... w c 00 the gases of the atmosphere and the dust, smoke and pollen blown about by the winds. Many factors affect in some degree the chemical quality of wa.ter. Some re:lAte to natural conditions such as the amount and in- tensity of precipitation, topography, tile nature of rock formations and soils and the amount of vegetable cover, Others result from human acti- vities connected with industrial development or population concentration. Mine drainage, oil field wastes, drainage from irrigation projects, in- dustrial wastes and municipal se~mge all affect in varying degrees the quality of stream and ground waters in specific areas in the Arkansas- 1fuite-Red River drainage basins. ,', o c' From the standpoint of population served and rate of consumption, the use of ground waters is of equal importance to the use of surface waters for public supplies in the Arkansas-White-Red basins. However, there are aver four times as many communities using ground water sources as there are utilizing surface sources. The :lArge number of smallez; com- munities developed supplies from underground sources principally for eco- nomic reasons whereas the larger ci ties resort to surface supplies for reasons of adequate supply and quality or avai:lAbility. Growing public demand for better quality water together with the increas:ing tendency of industry to make quality of water one of the deter- mining factors in locating new plants po:int up the need for much additional :information :in the Arkansas-ifuite-Red area. Some proposals for new indus- tries will be dropped because of insufficient water, some because of poor quality of water, and some, no doubt, because of :lAck of reliable information about water. The information is often needed in a v-eat hurry, whereas it can be accumulated but slowly. It must be ready in advance. There are appended tables listing information which 18 pertinent to various water uses. Table 1 contains water quality information desirable for various water uses. Table I-A includes definitions and expl.azlation of terms used in Table 1. Table 2 shoVB the significance of common im- purities which affect waters for domestic and industrial uses. This table liaS developed from the basic presentation in the Water Ha.ndbook by W. H. and L. D. Betz. Certain changes in the original tabulation vere conaidered desirable for use in this report. Table 3 shows the effects of various lIastes on changes in the quality of vater affecting fishes. Figure 1 shovs the suitability of irrigation water as affected by total mineral concentra- tion. A copy of Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards (1946) is included for reference regarding the quality of waters used for drinking purposes. QUALITY OF ffiOUNDifA TERS Introduction To be satisfaccory for municipal use, the ,vater supplied to the consumer should be free from disease-producing organisms as evidenced by 5-2