AWWA JAW57265

Natural salt pollution severely constrains the use of large quantities of water in major river/reservoir systems in the southwestern United States. This is a major concern for utility managers as populations grow and place ever-increasing demands on water supplies for municipal, industrial, and agricultural use. In this article, the author examines the sources and causes for natural salt pollution, and the various mitigation strategies and their associated challenges for addressing this issue. The measures addressed in this article that have been developed for dealing with salinity include: dilution with better-quality water; desalination; and collection and disposal of brine in the source areas. Also discussed are the issues of economics and funding, as well as environmental challenges and water availability, which are associated with implementing large-scale salinity control projects. Includes 21 references, figures.