OCR Text |
Show the proposed municipal well development requires that the entire development be made in the eastern portion, where high quality groundwater ( less than 500 mg/ 1 of total dissolved solids) and aquifer transmissibility ( greater than 20,000 cubic feet per day per foot) are favorable for this development as shown in Figure H- l. Even though the level of development agreed on is less than the development modeled with the analog model, there would still be some localized effects. Large declines in the groundwater level would take place in areas of heaviest development. Some groundwater level decline of a lesser magnitude would be experienced throughout most of the eastern part of the Jordan Valley. Some wells around the fringe of the high quality area would be contaminated with poorer quality water. Even the present level of development is causing some water- level declines and water quality degradation. Some wells would require deepening or lowering of pump bowls to maintain production. Pressure- induced artesian flows from wells, springs, and seeps would be reduced somewhat. Various economic and legal problems have been encountered when spring and flowing well discharge have been reduced because of increased pumping. A recent Utah Supreme Court ruling ( Wayman, et al. vs. Murray City et al., ^ 58 P- 2d 86l ( 1969)) is a significant ruling that permits greater beneficial use of the groundwater resource. This ruling states that all present appropria- tors of the groundwater basin are required to employ reasonable and efficient means in taking their water so that wastage of water is avoided and that the maximum amount of the resource is beneficially used. This ruling does not eliminate the right to aquifer pressure as part of the water right, but it allows a reasonable reduction in pressure. Flowing well depletions would be replaced with water pumped from the proposed well development or from Lampton Reservoir. Depletions to the Jordan River would also be replaced from Lampton Reservoir. However, river quality would decrease somewhat because the replacement water is poorer quality than depleted groundwater inflow. 495 |