| OCR Text |
Show QUALITY OF UNDERGROUND WATER. 31 The average of analyses of 12 streams « coming from the Wasatch Mountains shows a total solid content of 319 parts per million, ranging from 122 to 536, the varying character of the water being due to differences in the rocks of the respective watersheds. Examination of these analyses shows that calcium is usually the most abundant base, with magnesium a poor second, while sodium and potassium generally are much less plentiful and vary in relative amounts. Among the acid radicals, carbonic commonly preponderates, being often several times, more abundant than the others; sulphuric ranks next, and in a few streams is important, while chlorine is generally of minor occurrence. Little Cottonwood Creek ranks first, having only 121.8 parts per million of dissolved solids. It flows for most of its course through granitic rock and therefore contains but little calcium carbonate. The total solids in Big Cottonwood Creek water are also low and relatively little lime is present because a large part of the drainage is over silicious rocks. The great abundance of limestone on most of the watersheds accounts for the abundance of calcium carbonate. Red Butte, Emigration, and Parleys creeks make a relatively poor showing, the sulphates being especially abundant, because these streams flow over Permo- Carbon-iferous and Mesozoic rocks containing more or less gypsiferous matter. Provo River and Spanish Fork drain large areas occupied by a variety of rocks, among which limestone is prominent, and the analyses show rather high amounts of total solids, the carbonates being particularly abundant. Currant and Warm creeks are exceptional. The unusual amount * of sodium chloride present in Currant Creek is derived from salt deposits above Nephi. Warm Creek rises in the springs west of Goshen, and the character of its water, like that of similar springs in this area, is due to unusual conditions. The few analyses of the thermal springs in the area under consideration show the presence of abundant dissolved salts, of which the chlorides are the most plentiful, though considerable quantities of sulphates and carbonates are also present. Sodium is several times more abundant than any other base, calcium ranks second, and magnesium and potassium are present in small amounts. Some of the hot springs contain considerable hydrogen sulphide. Most, if not all, of these springs are associated with faults and have a deep-seated origin, to which their temperature and composition are due. The mineral matter is leached from the deposits through which the waters pass, much of the salt content being probably derived from old lake beds. Analyses of water from flowing wells are similar to those of surface streams. Different wells give different results, the quality of the water varying with the source and the nature of the deposits passed through underground. Analyses from the " Murray" and " Ger-mania" wells show an unusually small content of total solids, while those from the wells of the Utah Sugar Company at Lehi and near Provo show amounts above ' the average. In the area contiguous to Great Salt Lake the well water contains considerable salt, but no analyses were obtained. In general the water from flowing wells is of admirable quality and often forms a marked contrast to the supply from shallow wells. a Omitting Currant and Warm creeks, which are exceptional. |
