Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Sampling and analysis of the brine springs and brine in the alluvium <br /> <br />shows it has a total dissolved solids concentration in the range of <br /> <br />265,000 milligrams per liter (mg/l), or higher. This concentration is <br /> <br />approximately 7.5 times that of sea water which contains 35,000 mg/l of <br /> <br />total dissolved solids. About 205,000 tons of salt enter the river <br /> <br />throughout the valley annually. The brine contains approximately 92,000 <br /> <br />mg/l sodium and l54,00U mg/l chloride in addition to some other minor <br /> <br />element s. <br /> <br />Sodium chloride makes up approximately 93 percent of the <br /> <br />brine. A representative chemical analysis of the brine is shown on Table <br /> <br />1. Hydrogen sulfide gas is also associated with the brine. <br /> <br />Gas bubbles <br /> <br />have been observed surfacing in the brine inflow areas, <br /> <br />This bubbling <br /> <br />action could also be a driving force helping the brine move to the <br /> <br />surface. <br /> <br />The amount of salt the river picks up varies considerably throughout <br /> <br />the year. Through observations, it has been determined that a number of <br /> <br />things cause this variation. <br /> <br />1. Salt builds up on the river bottom, banks, and sandbars during <br /> <br />low flows and is washed out during higher flows. <br /> <br />2. Piezometric head changes in the brine aquifers, <br /> <br />3. Change of water levels in the river. <br /> <br />Using the measured salt pickup rates, and having measured brine <br /> <br />flowing into the river with concentrations of 265,000 mg/l, it is <br /> <br />estimated that the brine inflow rate ranges from 0.2 to 2.1 cubic feet per <br /> <br />second (ft3/sec,) and averages 0.80 ft3/sec. <br /> <br />(;')-568 <br /> <br />5 <br />