Water Quality

Water quality is extremely important. If our drinking water is not clean, then it is not safe to drink. Diseases, illnesses and even death may be caused from water that is unsafe to drink. Unfortunately, at times you may not see, smell or taste the difference in water that is not safe. However, there are tests performed to identify harmful substances before they get into your drinking water. Although many substances that enter the underground are caused by humans, there are also natural occurrences that may contribute to harmful amounts of matter that risk the safety of the groundwater. Fresh water has many natural minerals, metals, chemicals, and radiation that can affect the quality of water depending on the amount of concentration.

Foreign substances that are not naturally found in the underground can pollute the groundwater source. Underground water can become contaminated by industrial, domestic, and agricultural chemicals from the surface.
Since underground water is always moving, contaminates can migrate underground and intrude in fresh water. Pesticide occurrence in groundwater is especially sensitive in agricultural areas, but is not only limited there. Pesticides can leech into aquifers by accidental spills, leaks, abandoned or poorly sealed well, and agricultural or urban runoff.

Many household items such as paints, cleaners, batteries, etc. can also be harmful to the groundwater if overused, spilled or improperly disposed of. If these items are not used within a year, it is best to discard them by taking them to the closest environmental center that will recycle these products. Consider using environmentally friendly products as an alternative to the more hazardous ones.

In 1986 Congress passed amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act which established requirements for States to develop Wellhead Protection (WHP) Programs. These programs were intended to prevent the contamination of groundwater that is used as a public drinking water supply. It is a community based program to involve citizens in not only taking action to change habits but be proactive in monitoring well head protection areas and educate others within the community to be attentive when using chemicals or other possible substances that may leech into the groundwater.

El Paso Water Utilities has in the past enlisted volunteers to examine areas around El Paso's 150 water supply wells. The volunteers are trained to recognize hazardous materials and to use Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) equipment to determine the exact location of potential contaminant sources within a 1/4 mile radius of a well. The volunteers also help educate others of the importance of being aware that hazardous substances contaminate the aquifer.

Brackish Water

Is water that contains a high concentration of salt. Salt can come from different sources such as: rock, minerals, agricultural, urban runoff or industrial waste. The source of the salt in the Hueco Bolson is likely to have come from salt deposits left by oceans millions of years ago. As the fresh water of the Hueco Bolson is rapidly being used, a large volume of untapped brackish water is available for treatment.

Desalination

Is the process of removing salts from water. It is sometimes necessary to remove salt from public water systems in order to comply with government drinking water standards. Desalination plants are commonly used along coastal areas to treat fresh water that has salt intrusion. Inland desalination uses basically the same technology with a few changes in the treating process due to different types of minerals being encountered. Desalination is an expensive process, from salt removal to the disposal of the salt byproduct. Desalination would create approximately seven tons of salt per one million gallons of brackish water treated.

The El Paso Water Utilities/Ft. Bliss Desalination plant will blend the freshwater and brackish water in order to maintain sufficient quantities of quality drinking water.