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Objection to BMRI's AM-03 <br />Page 7 of 23 . . <br />February 22, 2008 <br />BMRI's test results and studies attached to AM-03 to support this general contention are <br />incomplete. <br />Further, the only "beneficial use„ contemplated is to use waste water on currently <br />irrigated farm lands with the net effect of degrading the water quality of the underlying <br />aquifer from that which currently exists. <br />THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY ACCOMPLISHES ITS INTENDED PURPOSES. <br />There is no reason to believe that the water treatment facility is not operating as <br />intended or is ineffective in some manner. In fact, it appears to be meeting its intended <br />purpose. The current'means of waste water disposal allows for waters in the West Pit <br />area, including those that are pumped back into the West Pit from the alluvial ground <br />water capture wells, to be treated and then discharged to the stream. These Opposers <br />support keeping the existing water treatment facility in use and intact for several <br />reasons: <br />(a) The treatment process all occurs in a relatively confined area in and <br />around the West Pit. The West Pit is in a remote location. It is not close to agricultural <br />lands, and a considerable distance from any. domestic wells and the town of San Luis. <br />It is believed that the nearest domestic well from this area is located approximately <br />three miles downgradient. <br />(b) Treating the waters in the West Pit area is the appropriate location to <br />deal with the constituents in the waste water. In this manner, the constituents are both <br />generated and treated in close proximity to one another. <br />(c) The process works - whatever the water quality considerations are in <br />the West Pit area prior to treatment - they are remedied before discharge to the stream. <br />This process eliminates maintaining the water levels in the West Pit within narrowly <br />prescribed limits to assure quality controls. It also eliminates the considerations <br />attaching to changes in water quality over time in the West Pit. With the water <br />treatment facility in place, this important consideration need not be addressed. The <br />Issue of minor fluctuations in ground water elevation that can result in degraded water