Water-related impacts of geothermal energy production in California's Imperial Valley

Conference · Thu Jul 05 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5950345

Layton, D W

To successfully develop the geothermal resources of the Imperial Valley, adequate supplies of cooling water must be obtained. The primary sources of water include waste waters from agricultural lands, condensate from flashed-steam facilities, and irrigation water. The major advantages and disadvantages of these supplies are examined and then the consequences of adopting six sets of water policies to support three scenarios of geothermal energy production are assessed. The assessment includes analyses of potential constraints to development as a result of restrictive water policies. It also includes predictions of changes in the Salton Sea's elevation and salinity caused by the consumption of agricultural drain water for cooling.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5950345
• Report Number(s): UCRL-82871; CONF-790906-18
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
AGRICULTURE
BLOWDOWN
CALIFORNIA
COOLING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
Geothermal Legacy
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IMPERIAL VALLEY
IRRIGATION
LIQUID WASTES
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
SALINITY
SALTON SEA
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER REQUIREMENTS
WESTERN REGION