Agricultural drainage water-how should it be regulated in California

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(1989)115:1(3)· OSTI ID:6898310

Hall, S K; Johnston, W R; Miller, W J ^[1]

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1. Land Preservation Associates, Fresno, CA (USA)

The problem of managing the saline agricultural drainage water drained from San Joaquin Valley California farmland has confronted farmers and water developers for years. As the irrigated area in the valley has expanded, drainage problems have intensified, creating a need to manage an increasing volume of drainage water in an economically feasible and environmentally safe way. At Kesterson Reservoir near Los Banos, California, deaths and deformities of waterfowl have been linked to the existence of the trace element selenium. Selenium in drainage water has compounded the problem of managing the water and has led to increased public concern over the safety of disposing of the water. Laws governing toxic waste disposal have become more restrictive as public concern over toxic issues has increased. Laws governing the disposal of liquid hazardous wastes have become particularly onerous. High selenium concentrations in drainage water trigger the imposition of hazardous waste laws. It is conceivable that some Valley drainage water will be considered a hazardous waste. Efforts to solve the drainage problem should involve on-farm water conservation and other measures to reduce the volume of drainage effluent. 14 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6898310
• Journal Information: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering; (USA) Vol. 115:1; ISSN JIDED; ISSN 0733-9437
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AGRICULTURE
CALIFORNIA
CONTROL
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION IX
INDUSTRY
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
RUNOFF
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
TOXICITY
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL