Impact of energy development on Colorado River water quality
Citation
A Bruce Bishop, Impact of energy development on Colorado River water quality: .
Summary
The Colorado River Basin, poor in water and rich in energy resources, is examined to see if water quality can be sustained for U.S. and Mexican users. Activities to mine, process, transport, and convert resources to energy and to reclaim the land all require water, although development is expected to continue in spite of uncertainties. Projections of water requirements for different energy sources are summarized for the 1990-2000 time period. Restrictions on water supply derive from both quantity limitations and such institutional barriers as water rights and contracts. Projections of the sources and occurrences of salinity levels and pollutants are detailed for each section of the Basin. Salinity is concluded to be the greatest source [...]
Summary
The Colorado River Basin, poor in water and rich in energy resources, is examined to see if water quality can be sustained for U.S. and Mexican users. Activities to mine, process, transport, and convert resources to energy and to reclaim the land all require water, although development is expected to continue in spite of uncertainties. Projections of water requirements for different energy sources are summarized for the 1990-2000 time period. Restrictions on water supply derive from both quantity limitations and such institutional barriers as water rights and contracts. Projections of the sources and occurrences of salinity levels and pollutants are detailed for each section of the Basin. Salinity is concluded to be the greatest source of concern for the U.S. and Mexico. Control strategies will prohibit the return of concentrated brines to the river, although the removal of water from the river for dilution purposes has more effect on salinity than the removal of salt load with the water.
Published in Natural Resources Journal, volume 17, issue 4, on pages 649 - 671, in 1977.