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Objection to BMRI's AM-03 <br />Page 10 of 23 <br />February 22, 2008 <br />Pit wells are very close to the Secondary Standard limits, No TDS or sulfate data was <br />available for the Town or Shalom ranch wells. <br />This analysis shows that water quality in both the Shalom Ranch Well and the <br />Town Well are very good. However, water being pumped from the West Pit is of <br />considerably poorer quality, often violating secondary drinking water standards. He <br />further points out that if metals like iron and manganese are significantly elevated in the <br />pit water, 'it raises the concern that other heavy metals and/or radionuclide may exist in <br />this water, which'have not been monitored, are present and at unacceptable levels. Mr. <br />Mefford concludes that disposing of this water by land application just up gradient from <br />the San Luis Town Well, and other domestic wells, raises serious water-quality <br />concerns. <br />Utilizing the water treatment facility and its reverse osmosis process eliminates <br />all water quality testing considerations at the West Pit area both from an historical and <br />current standpoint. The current treatment regime assures that waters entering the <br />stream are of appropriate quality. These material and important safeguards are <br />eliminated by the currant approach. <br />DISPOSAL. OF UNTREATED WATERS ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS IN A MANNER <br />THAT IMPAIRS WATER QUALITY IS AN UNACCEPTABLE PRACTICE <br />BMRI contends that it will apply water pumped from the West Pit during the <br />irrigation season on historically-irrigated lands on the Shalom Ranch by using the West <br />Pit water with irrigation water currently available at the Shalom Ranch (both surface and <br />ground water rights). <br />A. Impact on Separate Ditches <br />In the SWSP application, BMRI notes that surface water rights associated with <br />the Ranch - the Salazar Ditch and the AA Salazar Ditch - divert from the Salazar Ditch <br />headgate. There are also water rights decreed for the Salazar Reservoir on the ranch, <br />including two enlargements, totaling 133.1 acre feet of storage. A second reservoir in <br />the Shalom Ranch (Salazar Reservoir No. 2) has a water storage right of 35 acre feet.