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Show between suspended- organic carbon and turbidity at each of the five sites during June through October. The primary sources of turbidity in the Jordan River are clay- sized particles and organic material, which probably originate in Utah Lake, and organic material discharged from wastewater treatment plants. Control of algal growth in Utah Lake and the Jordan River during the summer and reduction in the quantity of organic material discharged from wastewater treatment plants could reduce turbidity in the Jordan River. Current Data - The most current data for the Jordan River has been collected by the Salt Lake City- County Health Department, which monitors the river monthly. In addition, sediment samples have been collected in conjunction with CERCLA assessments of the Jordan River, as well as wetland pond monitoring in conjunction with recent Clean Water Act, Section 319, project implementation, and Section 404, permit requirements. The City- County Health Department has employed Equal Width- Integrated sampling on the Jordan River since 1989. This method provides more accurate data and is consistent with data collected by the U. S. Geological Survey during the Nationwide Urban Runoff Assessments of 1979- 82. The method samples the entire water column across the channel width, as opposed to a point water sample. The parameters sampled include temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, total coliform, fecal coliform, fecal strep, biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended sediment, total nitrogen, ammonia, chloride, nitrate, sulfate, total dissolved phosphorus, hardness ( CAC03), arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, selenium and zinc. Table 12- 4 identifies the problem parameters as identified through current data collecting efforts. During the course of CERCLA investigations conducted in support of the Sharon Steel, Bingham Creek and Midvale Slag Superfund remediation projects, sediment was sampled the entire length of the Jordan River for lead, zinc, copper, arsenic and cadmium. Total copper, cadmium and zinc are potential problems for food chain organisms and animals ( fish and waterfowl). The principal sources appear to be urban and mining related activities. accounts for roughly 45 percent of the municipal and industrial water supply. Magnifying the issue of groundwater quality is the concern with how easily an aquifer can be polluted and how difficult it can be to clean up. Additionally, groundwater contamination is not readily apparent or easily detected. Groundwater issues are discussed in detail in Section 19 of this report. 12.5 Alternative Solutions Many federal and state agencies are charged with management or regulatory roles pertaining to water and water quality issues in the Jordan River Basin. A need existed to increase communication and cooperation among these government agencies to promote efficient planning, implementation and coordination of management and regulatory activities, as well as minimizing conflicts and preventing duplicated effort. Pursuant to that end, and in compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act, the Salt Lake County Board of Commissioners has been designated and approved as the area- wide water quality planning agency for Salt Lake County. The Salt Lake County Board of Commissioners established the Jordan River Sub- Basin Watershed Management Council. See Section 6- 3 for details. 12.6 Issues and Recommendations Only surface- water quality issues are discussed here. Groundwater quality issues are discussed in Section 19. Water quality issues in the Jordan River Basin are primarily associated with the continuing trend to convert agricultural lands to urban uses. Water quality problems are compounded because urbanization tends to degrade water quality and water quality of existing agricultural water supplies is too poor for direct conversion to municipal and industrial uses. Achieving a municipal water supply, however, is not the only worthy goal associated with improving Jordan River water quality. Today's society expects development and growth to be more in harmony with the environment. An important benefit associated with improving Jordan River water quality would be improved wildlife habitat within the streams, wetlands and adjacent riparian areas. The overall improvement of surface water quality will benefit human and wildlife users as well as aesthetics. I 12.4.2 Groundwater Pollution Groundwater is one of Utah's most valuable resources. In the Jordan River Basin, groundwater 12- 10 |