Re: Ground-Water Treatment Wastes Valuable Resources

[peter strauss <pstrauss@igc.apc.org>]

Armando,

Unforunately, your situation is not unique.  Many of the large Superfund
sites - East Coast and West Coast - discharge treated groundwater to
surface waters. Sometimes the options for making good use of this water
are very limited. In the following paragraph, there are four options as
I see it.  They all depend on site specific conditions, and I would
suggest that the RAB ask the Air Force some questions about what kind of
studies it has done to make a more efficient use of this water.

First, the treated water could be used to supplement 
potable water supplies.  I find this very unattractive. There are those
who would argue with this point. But a recent referendum in Tucson
eliminated re-use of treated water as a possibility. Second, the water
could be re-used to supplement non-potable supplies.  This could mean
using treated water to irrigate golf courses and nurseries, using it for
a "gray water system", and using it for construction and watering
erosion control plantings.  Unfortunately, in many cases I have seen,
these options are limited.  But it is certainly worth promoting.  Third,
as you queried, is the concept of re-injection.  I support this option
wherever it is feasible.  Unfortunately, in many instances, re-injection
is not technically feasible because of the hydrogeology of the site.
Fourth, is the concept of discharging the treated water to surface
streams.  While  this appears very wasteful at first blush, those
streams may to some degree actually recharge the aquifer, thus achieving
the the same benefit as  re-injection.  Again, this is site specific.

Peter Strauss