Full Description

The Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) of 1986 considered all groundwater under the influence of surface water to be "bad", essentially equivalent tosurface water from a treatment point of view. Although the California AmericanWater wells along the lower valley portion of the Carmel River in MontereyCounty obtained "groundwater" classification more than fifteen years ago, thisfundamental assessment of "ground vs. surface" is under scrutiny. Separateregulatory action by the California State Water Resources Control Board (Board)in 1995, reclassified these wells to be part of a subterranean stream and subject tojurisdiction of the Board. Although the action was intended to control theallocation of water rights, this reclassification of the type of water initiated actionby the California Department of Health Services, which regulates water quality /water supply per the Safe Drinking Water Act.This study presents various physical, microbiological and plankton data thatindicates that the water quality of the wells from the Lower Carmel ValleyAquifer are significantly different than, and are not under the influence of, surfacewater from the Carmel River. The monitoring program was conducted over a one-year period beginning in February2003 and ending in February 2004. Testing included:bi-weekly water quality testing; and,microscopic particulate analysis (MPA) tests conducted on the seven wellsupplies, once each during high and low flow periods on the Carmel River. Data analysis indicates that the water quality from the California American Water groundwaterwells in the lower valley portion of the Carmel River are significantly different than the waterquality of the Carmel River, and that the wells are not under the direct influence of surface water. Includes reference, tables, figures.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 06/17/2004 Number of Pages: 8File Size: 1 file , 320 KB