Working Paper No.  44
                   COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN PROJECT
           For Water Supply and Water Quality Management
                        PRELIMINARY REPORT
                              ON THE
                         ADEQUACY OF WATER
                              IN THE
                  YAKIMA RIVER BASIN, WASHINGTON
DATE;   August 1963                       DISTRIBUTION;

Prepared by  DPP                         Project Staff   X

Reviewed by  JLA                         Cooperating Agencies

Approved by 	                        General 	
        U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION,  AND WELFARE
                       Public Health Service
   Water Supply and Pollution Control Program,  Pacific Northwest
                         Portland, Oregon

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This working paper contains preliminary data and information primarily



intended for internal use by the Columbia River Basin staff and



cooperating agencies,  the material presented^in this paper has not



been fully evaluated and should not be considered as final.

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                     Preliminary Report
                           on the
                      Adequacy of Water
                           in the
               Yakima River Basin, Washington
     U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,  EDUCATION,  AND WELFARE
                    Public Health Service
Water Supply and Pollution Control Program,  Pacific  Northwest

                      Portland, Oregon
                         August  1963

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                          PREFACE


     This report was originally intended to be a finished document

describing the adequacy of water in the Yakima Basin, Washington.

When a draft was finished, however, it appeared that no important

knowledge would be added to the water resources field by the report

and, secondly, the report was somewhat out of sequence with the

development and presentation of comprehensive studies in the Basin.

For these reasons, the report was never completed in finished form

but is compiled as a working paper for general use by the Columbia

River Basin Project personnel working in the Basin.
                                       Donald P.  Dubois
                                       Sanitary Engineer
                                       August, 1963

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              TABLE   OF   CONTENTS

                                                              Page

  I.  INTRODUCTION	   1

      A.  Purpose of the Report	   1
      B.  Description of the Basin	   1
      C.  Economy of the Basin	   2

 II.  SURFACE WATER SUPPLY	   3

      A.  Regulation	   3
      B.  Floods	   5
      C.  Water Use	   5
      D.  Summary	   7

III.  GROUND VJATER	   9

      A.  Ground Water Supply 	   9
      B.  Ground Water Quality  	  12

 IV.  SURFACE WATER QUALITY	16

      A.  Water Quality Data Collection Programs  	  16
      B.  Factors Affecting Water Quality 	  18
      C.  Water Quality Parameters  	  20

          1.  Common Mineral Ions	20

              a.  Chloride	21
              b.  Hardness, Calcium, and Magnesium	22
              c.  Sulfates	24
              d.  Sodium and Potassium	25

          2.  Other Cheraical Parameters . .  .	26

              a.  Alkalinity	27
              b.  Fluoride	29
              c.  Hydrogen Ion Concentration  	  29
              d.  Iron and Manganese	31
              ei  Nitrate	32
              f.  Oxygen	34
              g.  Phosphates	36
              h.  Silica	38

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                                                              Page

         3.  Physical Parameters 	 39

             a.  Color	39
             b.  Solids	40
             c.  Temperature	44
             d.  Turbidity	47

         4.  Biological Parameters 	  .....48

             a.  Bacteria	48
             b.  Plankton	51
 V.  INTERPRETATION OF WATER QUALITY DATA	52

     A.  Physical and Chemical Constituents  	  .52

         1.  Irrigation and Industrial Use	52.
         2.  Public Water Supply Use	52
         3.  Fish Habitat	53
         4.  Recreational and Aesthetic Value  	 54

     B.  Biological Constituents 	 54

         1.  Industrial Use	54
         2.  Public Water Supply Use	55
         3.  Recreation and Aesthetic Use	56

     C.  Adequacy of Water Data	56

VI.  APPENDIX  .	58-

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I.  INTRODUCTION




     A.  Purpose of the Report




     A number of individuals and organizations have gathered water




quality and quantity data in the Yakiraa Basin.  A portion of these




data have been collected for the purpose of answering specific




questions; other data have been collected on a routine basis and




published without analysis or comment.  The purpose of this report




is to bring these data together and interpret them so that they will




have greater meaning and be of greater usefulness.  It is the opinion




of the Public Health Service that a periodic review should be made




of data collecting programs to see that the proper data are being




collected at proper time and distance intervals to provide adequate




information without needless duplication of effort.




     B.  Description of the Basin




     The Yakima River system drains an area of some 6,000 square




miles of central Washington.  The Yakima River and its main tribu-




taries originate on the eastern slope of the Cascade, mountain range




where the average annual precipitation exceeds 100 inches at several




points.  From its source in the Cascade Range, the River flows in a




southeasterly direction for approximately 205 miles to its confluence




with the Columbia River near Richland.  Precipitation in the lower




portion of the Basin is less than ten inches per year in most places.

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                                                                  2




The slope of the river is fairly steep over most of its length;




ranging from over twenty feet per mile in the upper reaches to less




than two feet per mile for short stretches in the lower reaches.   The




portion of the Basin above Cle Slum is forested with evergreen trees




as are the Naches and Tieton drainage areas above the confluence  of




the two rivers.  The remaining portion of the Basin is largely




treeless with vegetation consisting of sagebrush and various grasses.




     The Yakima Valley is generally separated into three distinct




areas; that portion above Wilson Creek, the portion between Selah Gap




and Union Gap, arid the portion below Union Gap.  The area between




Selah Gap and wilson Creek, a distance of twenty-five to thirty




river miles, is a steep-walled canyon.




     C.  Economy of the Basin




     The 1960 population of the Yakima Basin totaled approximately




203,000.  Table 1 shows the change in population between 1950 and




1960 for the three counties in the Yakima Basin as compared with




the total Oregon-Washington trend for the same period.




     Table 2 of the Appendix shows the distribution of the employed




civilian labor force by industry in the Yakirna Basin for 1950 and




1960.  It can be seen that the economy o£ the Basin is based largely




on agriculture and the llanford Atomic Works.   The latter industry is




located only partially in the Basin and its economic effect is felt




largely in communities located outside the Basin.  It is evident,  also,




that the number of persons employed in agriculture and construction




is decreasing while employment in manufacturing and service industries




is increasing.

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                                                                 2a
                              Table  1
                  Change  in Population  1950-1960

Benton, Kittitas and Yakima
Counties
Compared v;ith Oregon- Washington SJ


Benton
Kittitas
Yakima
3-County Area
Oregon- Washing

1950 1960
51,370 62,070
22,235 20,467
135,723 145,112
209,328 227,649
ton 3,900,304 4,621,901

Rate of Increase,
Compounded Annually,
Percent
1.9
Decrease
0.7
0.8
1.7
a/ U. S. Census,  as of April  1.

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                                                                  3




II.  SURFACE WATER SUPPLY




     A.  Regulation




     Stream flow in the Yakima River Basin is sharply influenced by




man-made facilities.   Six regulating reservoirs, with a total capacity




of slightly more than one million acre-feet are located in the Basin.




Numerous diversions for irrigation and power generation also markedly




influence flows in the river. Three of the reservoirs, Keechelus,




Kachess and Cle Elum, are enlargements of natural lakes, and are




located on the Yakima and tributaries to the Yakima River above the




town of Cle Elum.  Bumping Reservoir is located on the Bumping River,




a tributary to the Naches, and is also an enlargement of a natural




lake.  Tieton (now called Rimrock) Reservoir impounds Tieton River




water.  Clear Creek Reservoir, with a capacity of only 5,300 acre-




feet is located on the Tieton River one mile above Tieton (Rimrock)




Reservoir and is not normally operated.  Wenas Reservoir, located on




Wenas Creek, has a capacity of some 1,500 acre-feet and is used to




provide irrigation water in the Wen'as Creek Valley.




     Regulation in the Basin is for the purpose of providing irriga-




tion waters in the quantity and at the time they are needed.  Flood




control benefits are provided only as they do not interfere with




irrigation.  The operating schedule consists of stopping releases




from four of the reservoirs at the end of the irrigation season so




that they may fill as rapidly as possible.  A flow of twenty-five to




thirty cubic feet per second is maintained in the Cle Elum River

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                                                                  4




below the dam to meet water supply needs of the City of Cle Elum.




Releases from storage may begin as early as April or as late as  •




July, depending on runoff conditions.




     Major diversion from the Yakima include the Kittitas High




Line Canal at Eastern, the Roza Canal some fifteen miles above Yakima,




the Uapato Canal five miles below Yakima, the.Sunnyside Canal eight




miles below Yakima, and the diversion for power and irrigation of




land in the Kennewick area at Prosser.  The major diversion in the




Naches River sub-basin is from the Tieton River eight miles below




Tieton Dam.




     Figure 1 indicates the average annual flow of the Yakima River




at Cle Elum, Umtanum (just above the Roza diversion), Parker (just




below the Wapato and Sunnyside diversions) and at Kiona.  Except in




the case of the Kiona station, the period of record shown reflects




the flow as it applies today; that is, after major diversions have




been placed in operation to alter long term records.  The Kennewick




Canal which by-passes the Kiona station was not placed in operation




until August, 1956.  The Kennewick Canal has an average flow of




approximately 100 cfs.




     As was mentioned earlier, there is a great deal of regulation of




the river and, hence, the relative proportion of stream flow for




various reaches of the river changes markedly with the season.




Figure 2 shown graphically the stream flow in the basin for the July




through September period.

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                                                         1.OOP's
Jan [ Feb [Mar [Apr | May uune I July I Aug(Sept
Oct| Nov
Dec
Jan'l Feb I Mar I Apr |May I June] July I Aug |  Septi Oct I  NovlDec
                  Cle Elum (1934-1960)
                                   Umtanum  (1934-1960)
                                           FIGURE 1 - AVERAGE FLOW BY MONTH
Jan I Feb I Mar I Apr | May  Junejjuly |Aug  |Sept| Oct | Nov |  Dec    Jan | Feb | Mar iApr JMay | June I July I  Aug |Sept |  Oct JNov |Dec
                   Parker  (1945-1960)
             1,000's
                            Kiona  (1945-1960) '

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YAK I MA  RIVER  FLOW
    July iVouch S&pt
Prosstr
        Scale? t" * 10,000dc*.

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                                                                  5




     B.  Floods




     Floods of various magnitude have plagued the Yakima Valley from




time to time.  Major floods of unknown magnitude occurred seven times




in the Valley between 1862 and 1896.  Stream gaging was initiated in




1896 and since that time eight major floods have occurred.   The




December 1933 flood was the last flood of record in the lower Yakima




Valley.  The Corps of Engineers estimated that,  under conditions of




1949 land use and at 1950 prices, damages of approximately  $3.25




million would occur in a flood equal to the 1933 flood.  The largest




spring flood occurred in May of 1948 and under the circumstances




mentioned above damages of $2.44 million would result.




     C.  Water Use




     Irrigation is the dominant water use in the Yakima River Basin.




Some 2,340,000 acre-feet per year of surface water is used  for this




purpose.  This over-shadows the municipal use of approximately 1,100




acre-feet and the industrial use of some 10,000  acre-feet of surface




water.




     Water in the Yakima Basin as in most western river basins is




subject to the "doctrine of prior appropriation."  The essence of




this doctrine is that an individual or group of  individuals may ob-




tain a right for the use of water irrespective of their location in




the Basin and their right must be honored before subsequent rights




when adequate flow is not available to satisfy all rights.

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     The total rights of storage and power users diverting water above




Sunnyside Dam are 2,680,400 acre-feet annually.-'   Of this total,




2,232,200 acre-feet are for irrigation purposes alone and will be




used during the months of April through October.  The average annual




discharge for the 58 years between 1897 and 1954 and 3,098,000 acre-




feet at the Parker gaging station.




     The Bureau of Reclamation —'  estimates that,  with ultimate




development of irrigable land and existing storage facilities,




shortages of irrigation water would have occurred five times in the




past year.




     Rights to divert waters of the Yakima River were adjudicated by




the Court in 1945.  The Court decision, known as the Consent Decree,




set forth the amount of water each user or district is entitled to




receive and classified the rights into proratable and non-proratable




rights.  Non-proratable rights are those which were established first




and in the case of a water shortage would be supplied first.  Pro-




ratable rights, as the name implies, would receive an amount less than




their normal total in case of a water shortage.  Fifty-seven percent




of the water rights for irrigation in the Yakima River above




Sunnyside Dam are proratable.
I./ U. S. Bureau of Reclamation 1956 Report.

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                                                                  7




     D.  Summary




     In the above discussion, it is apparent that summer flows




including releases from storage are essentially completely appropriated




and that shortages can be expected to occur periodically with utlimate




development of present irrigation projects and no increase in storage.




     As was pointed out in the opening section of the report, very low




flows exist in certain reaches of the river during certain seasons.




Low flows in the river reach below the storage dams occur during the




reservoir filling period in the fall.  These low flows create a hazard




to the spawning of salmon by preventing fish passage and preventing




the development of eggs laid in the stream bed before subsistence of




the water level.  Low summer flows in the lower reacjhes_ar_e also




detrimental to fish passage, both_£r.om-.a...quantity standpoint and




from a temperature and quality^_standpoint.  The low flows in this




reach affect water quality and temperature by insufficient dilution




of warm and highly mineralized irrigation return flows and to a lesser




extent municipal and industrial wastes.




     The adequacy of the water supply would be increased by a Bureau




of Reclamation proposal to increase the capacity of Bumping Reservoir




from its present 32,600 acre-foot capacity to 420,000 acre-feet.




Under the proposed plan, some 100,000 acre-feet of the storage would




be provided for irrigation and flood control and approximately 320,000




acre-feet would be provided for quality control and to maintain minimum

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                                                                  8




flows for fish passage.   With the increased storage capacity,  a




minimum of 50 cfs could be provided all of the streams below reser-




voir and diversions except at the Wapatox power diversion on the




Naches River where a 43 cfs minimum would be provided during the




winter months.  A minimum average monthly flow of 230 cfs would  be




allowed to pass Sunnyside diversion dam during the summer months.




It is also estimated that water shortages for irrigation would be




less severe during dry years and that a 8,000 to 10,000 cfs  reduc-




tion in flood flows at Parker could be effected.

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III.  GROUND WATER

     A.  Ground water supply

     The ground water resources of the Yakima Basin are an important

.complement to the surface water resources of the area.  All of

the municipalities in the Basin except Roslyn and Easton utilize

ground water for municipal water supply purposes.  Cle Blum,

Ellensburg, Richland and Yakima obtain a portion of their supply

from surface water.  In addition, ground water is used extensively

for individual industrial and domestic purposes and for irrigation.

Well logs for over four hundred wells in the Yakima are on file

with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.  The

U. S. Geological Survey lists the 1951 ground water withdrawals in

the Basin as:. ~

Irrigation 	  23,900 acre-feet per year

Industrial 	  14,600 acre-feet per year

Municipal	   7,800 acre-feet per year

Domestic	   5,365 acre-feet per year

Total	  51,665 acre-feet per year

     Surface water rights for irrigation projects approximated one

hundred times the amount of ground water used for irrigation in 1951.

In certain areas, of the Basin, however, irrigation with ground water

plays a more important role.
     \_l "Geyhydraulic Evaluation of Streamflow Records in the Yakima
River Basin, Washington", Jack E. Sceva, U. S. Geological Survey,
Water Resources Division.

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                                                                 10

     The area of most intense ground water use is in the Ahtanum

Valley.  Some twenty-five percent of the total number of wells in

the Basin (as indicated by the recorded well logs) are located in

this area and the area leads all others in ground water use,

according to the U. S. Geological Survey figures. —  Approximately

6,300 acre-feet per year of ground water is used in this area,

mainly for irrigation.  The area of the Ahtanum Valley where ground

water development has taken place is approximately one hundred

square miles.

     It is estimated that withdrawals from the basalt (deep) forma-

tion could be increased somewhat without exceeding the long term

yield.  It is recommended — that any additional wells be spaced as

far as possible from other wells to prevent interference.  Any future

major increase in withdrawals from the unconsolidated alluvium (near

surface) should be given careful consideration before being attempted.

Increased withdrawals from this formation would tend to lower the

water table which would be desirable from the standpoint of drawing

water logged areas and would reduce the water loss from non-

beneficial evaporation and plant transpiration.  However, in areas

near surface waters, additional water would tend to leave the stream

and enter the ground, then reducing stream flows.  This lessening of

stream flow may not occur, however, until after the irrigation
     _!/ This material abstracted from "Geology and Ground Water
Resources of the Ahtanum Valley, Yakiina County, Washington", by
Bruce L. Foxworthy, U. S. Department of the Interior, Geological
Survey, Open-file Department, August 1959.

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                                                                 11

season.  Secondly, evaporation and transpiration from new irrigated

areas would increase.  The net result of these factors seems to be

that an increase in irrigated land, using ground water, could be

accomplished if properly planned without seriously depleting the

ground or surface supply.

     The main area of ground water use in the Wenas Creek Valley is

in the lower portion of the Valley.  Some 2,200 acres were irrigated

with an estimated total of 4,000 acre-feet in 1948.  Only about fifty

acre-feet was used in the upper portion of the Valley.  It is further

estimated that not over one hundred acre-feet of ground water is used

for stock watering and domestic use.   Thus,  the total ground water

use in the Valley was approximately 4,150 acre-feet in 1948.  It was

reported i'  that there was (in 1949)  "no indication that the safe

yield of the water-bearing formations had been reached."  It was

also indicated that no decline in water levels had been recorded in

the upper Ellensburg formation of the lower  valley which is the

main water producer.  It was estimated that  some 10,000 acre-feet

per year of water could be pumped from this  formation without

appreciable perennial lowering of the water  table.   It was cautioned,

however, that adequate data on part water levels had not been avail-

able and stated that an accurate record of pumpage and water levels

should be maintained to establish a better estimate of the safe

yield of the Baain.
     J./ Unpublished report entitled "Geology and  Ground Water Re-
sources of the Wenas Creek Valley, Yakima County,  Washington," by
J. E. Sceva, F. A. Watkins, Jr., and W. N. Schlax, Jr.,  1949 (USGS),
in cooperation with  the Division  of  Hydraulics, Washington State
 Department of Conservation.

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                                                                llOL




     The U. S. Geological Survey has not made detailed surveys of




other areas in the Yakiraa Basin.  Information available in the




files of the Division of Water Resources of the State of Washington




indicates that in general the more productive wells needed to




supply irrigation and municipal water are in either the relatively




deep basalt formations or in shallow alluvial formations, generally




near surface waters.




     Since detailed information on the geology and occurrence of




ground water is not available, specific statements on the adequacy




of the supply cannot be made.  In general,  the conditions stated for




the Ahtanum Valley—that withdrawals from shallow depths will have to




be considered in light of possible effects on surface supplies--applies




to the entire Basin.




     The ground water supply appears to be adequate to meet municipal




needs and it is probable that ground water will continue to supply




the needs of at least the smaller municipalities,  since it is usually




less expensive to drill the relatively deep wells required rather




than construct and operate water treatment plants.  Because of the




depth of wells required to obtain adequate supplies without affecting




surface water supplies, it is doubtful that extensive new irrigation




development will depend on ground water.

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                                                                12


     B.  Ground Water Quality


     In general, ground waters can be expected to be more highly


mineralized than surface waters.  This is the result of dissolving


and leaching from the soil of chemical constituents as the water


percolates downward to the aquifer.  The chemical make-up of the


formation through which the water passes will be reflected in the


chemical make-up of the ground water.  Shallow ground water such as is
                                                  i

found in the alluvial areas in the Yakima Valley will also reflect the


factors causing changes in water quality which take place immediately


above or adjacent to the point of measurement.  Ground water with-


drawn from shallow wells near surface waters will be similar to the


surface water in quality.  The quality of shallow ground water will


also be affected by irrigation, septic tank drainage, etc.


     Water from deep formations such as from the basalt formation in


the Ahtanum Valley in most cases travels long distances and is not


usually susceptible to localized effects from irrigation, septic


tanks, etc.  Bacterial contamination of shallow wells in some


suburbs of Yakima has been reported by the Yakima County Health


Department.


     Chemical analyses have been run by the U. S. Geological Survey


on seven wells in the Ahtanum Valley and in addition field determina-


tions of hardness and chloride were made on 37 additional wells.


These analyses showed a range in hardness from 49 to 265 mg/1 and


a chloride concentration range of 0.7 to 26 mg/1.  The breakdown by


formation is as follows:

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                                                                13

Yakima basalt
Ellensburg formation
Cemented gravel
Unconsolidated alluvium
No. of
Samples
6
9
10
19
Cl
(ppm)
1.2-8
6-26
5-26
0.7-14
Hardness
as CaC03
54-95
75-240
' 120-265
49-148
     More chemical analyses for the seven wells are listed in




Table 3 of the Appendix.   It has been found that the concentration




of various chemical constituents is related much more closely to




the rock material in which the water occurs than to the depth or




geographic location of the well.  Water from the basalt is generally




lower in chloride and hardness concentration than water from other




aquifers and the hardness of water in the shallow alluvial formations




increases in the down-valley direction.  Some wells tapping the




basalt aquifer reportedly contain small amounts of hydrogen sulfide.




     Complete chemical analyses were run on seven groundwater sup-




plies in the Wenas Creek Valley and hardness and chloride  determina-




tions made on 48 additional samples.  These tests showed a range in




hardness from 55 mg/1 to 360 mg/1.  Water from the basalt  had the lowest




average hardness and that from the upper Ellensburg formation the




highest.  The chloride concentration varied from 1.8 to 54 mg/1.




Table 3 of the Appendix lists complete chemical analyses for 27




ground water supplies in the Yakima Basin, including the detailed




analyses from the Ahtanum and Wenas Valleys.

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                                                                 14




     Ground water is in most cases more highly mineralized than the




surface water in the Basin.  Dissolved solids, a good indicator of




mineralization, averaged 135 mg/1 at Kiona and reached a maximum of




236 mg/1 at that point.  Table 3 shows that 24 of the wells had a




dissolved solids content more than 135 and that 10 had a reading




higher than 236.  There appears to be a relatively general increase




in the common cations (positive) and that in most cases bicarbonate




and chloride ion concentrations were higher than the average coiacen-




tration at Kiona but that the sulfate concentration was more often




lower.  Silica concentrations were almost always higher than those




normally found in the surface waters.  Only about one-quarter of the




samples showed water than would be classified as hard (over 150 mg/1




as CaCO-j)  while the remainder was soft or moderately hard.   The




dissolved solids concentration exceeded the Drinking Water Standards




recommended maximum of 500 in only one instance.  Other chemical




constituents were well within the Standards.'  The ground water can,




therefore, be considered as good to adequate for domestic purposes




from a physical and chemical standpoint.  The hardness of several of




the waters is high enough to make softening economically justifiable.




The bacterial quality of the deep wells is good and, in all cases of




municipal use, chlorination is the only treatment required.   Waters




withdrawn from shallow formations, especially in built-up areas




utilizing septic tanks as a means of sewage disposal, are subject




to bacterial contamination.  The Yakima County Health Department

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                                                                 15




reports shallow wells with a degree of bacterial contamination in the




area surrounding Yakima.  State Health Department figures through




1950 show a higher incidence of enteric diseases such as typhoid




fever, paratyphoid fever, dysentary, diarrhea,  and enteritis in




Yakima County than in the remainder of the State.  The data further




show that the incidence of these diseases is higher in the rural




areas of the county than in the City of Yakima.  Drinking polluted




water is often the cause of these enteric diseases and,: thus,  it is




probable that the use of unchlorinated water from shallow wells by




rural households contributes to the relatively  high incidence  of




enteric diseases.  From this information, it must be concluded that




the bacterial quality of shallow ground water supplies in built-up




areas and where irrigation causes a marked increase in the water




level should be highly suspect, and disinfection should be practiced




by all users.




     In general, the quality of ground waters in the Basin is  ade-




quate for the majority of the Basin's industrial uses, such as cooling




and washing.  Ground waters to be used in. all but low pressure  boilers




should be softened and the silica content reduced to prevent exces-




sive scaling.




     The ground water appears to be completely  adequate for




irrigation use.

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                                                                 16




IV.  SURFACE WATER QUALITY




     This section of the report attempts to present water quality




data in a readily usable, clear, and concise manner.  The data




used in this section were collected by a number of agencies for a




number of different purposes.   The available data are explained and




an interpretation of the quality of the water for various purposes




is made.




     A.  Water Quality Data Collection Programs




     The cooperative U. S. Geological Survey-Washington Pollution




Control Commission program for the collection of water quality data




has been in operation since approximately July 1, 1959.  Yakima River




samples are collected daily at Kiona and Parker and composited over




a one to four week period and analyzed for physical and chemical




constituents by the U.  S. Geological Survey.  Samples are collected




once each month on the Yakima  River at Cle Elum and on the Naches




River near its confluence with the Yakima River.   Determination of




chemical and physical constituent concentration is also made  on




these samples.  The monthly samples are analyzed by the Pollution




Control Commission for dissolved oxygen and coliform MPN.




     The U. S. Geological Survey began collecting water quality data




in the Basin before the cooperative working arrangement with  the




Washington Pollution Control Commission was established.  Daily




samples composited over one to four week periods and analyzed for




chemical and physical characteristics were collected during the

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                                                                 17


period January 1953 to September 1956 for Cle Elura and December 1952


until June 1959 at Kiona.


     A sampling station near the mouth of the Yakima River was estab-


lished by the Public Health Service in the spring of 1961 as part


of its National Water Quality Network.  Physical and chemical analyses


are made on grab samples collected weekly.  In addition,  co11form

                                          \      '
MPN's and radioactivity samples are collected weekly and sent to


the Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center in Cincinnati for


analysis.  Semi-monthly samples are collected and sent to Cincinnati


for determination number and types of algal organisms and other plank-


ton.  A carbon filter is also in operation at the Richland station.


Some 4,000 to 5,000 gallons of water are filtered through the carbon


filter each month.  Approximately once a month, the filter is changed;


the used filter being sent to the Sanitary Engineering Center for the


removal and analysis of material contained in the filter.  Examination


of this material reveals something of the extent and nature of


various groups of pollutants including such material as organic


pesticides.


     Several agencies have collected water quality data in the Yakima


Basin for the purpose of answering specific questions.  These surveys


were often short term, intensive investigations in which water quality


at a fairly large number of points-was examined.  The most notable


of these was the survey conducted by the Washington Pollution Control


Commission in the summer of 1951.  Eighty-three stations were sampled

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                                                                 18




six to twelve times each, and up to thirteen different tests were




performed on each sample.  Professor R. 0. Sylvester conducted




the 1951 survey for the Pollution Control Commission and, during




1954, 1955, and 1956, collected samples throughout the Columbia




River Basin including the Yakima Basin to assess water quality condi-




tions for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Professor Sylvester




received a Public Health Service research grant to study the rela-




tionships of agricultural practices and water quality;and he and




graduate students have collected a considerable amount of data and




written two papers. on_the__ irrigation return flows,their effect on




water quality, character, etc.  (Unpublished Master's Thesis by




Fred Poe and "The Character and Significance of Irrigation Return




Flows in the Yakima River Basin".)




     The Public Health Service and Washington Pollution Control Com-




mission conducted an intensive three-day sampling program during




critical flow conditions in September of 1961.  A subsequent and




less extensive study was made in February 1962.




     B.   Factors Affecting Water Quality




     Water quality in the upper reaches of the river system is very




high.  Surface water is generated mainly from snow melt and there




is very little human development in the area.  The uppermost point of




the river system receiving wastes is at Ronald on the Cle Elum River.




From this point downstream to the mouth, the Yakima River and its




tributaries receive periodic discharges of municipal and industrial




wastes as well as drainage from irrigated agricultural areas.

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                                                                 19




     Twenty-seven communities in the Basin have sewerage systems




serving approximately 120,000 people.  Each of these communities,




with the exception of Ronald, Roslyn, South Cle Elum and West




Richland, have at least primary treatment plants,  and the majority




(nineteen) have intermediate or secondary plants.   Seventeen of the




treatment plants are listed by the Washington Pollution Control Com-




mission as having adequate treatment facilities, while ten need




expansion or improvement.




     It is difficult to assign a population equivalent to the indus-




trial waste load reaching the Yaklma River system  because of the wide




seasonal variation in industrial activities and waste treatment




practice.  The largest industrial waste production occurs during the




fruit and vegetable canning season in the late summer months, but




treatment by land disposal and lagoons with little or no overflow




reduce discharges of these wastes to watercourses  to a bare minimum.




During winter months, a number of food processing  plants such as a




sugar refinery, apple and potato processors,  vinegar makers, etc.,




are in operation.  Land disposal cannot be practiced during the




winter months and lagoon overflow is increased by  the excess of




precipitation over evaporation.  The net effect is a considerably




greater stream loading during the winter months than during summer.




months.  Because of greater stream flows and lower temperatures,




the effect on the river is, however, less severe during winter




months.

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                                                                20

     During the summer months when the majority of wastes entering

the river system are from domestic and commercial sources, the popu~;

lation equivalent discharged is in the neighborhood of 55,000 to

60,000.  The wintertime population equivalent reaching the river

probably reaches a maximum of over 200,000.  There will,  of course, be

transition periods where waste loading to the stream will be at some

intermediate value.

     Return irrigation flow contributes to the degradation of the

Yakima River waters by increasing the concentration of dissolved

and suspended material in the stream.  There are some 600,000

potentially irrigable acres in the Yakima Basin of which  400,000

to 450,000 are presently irrigated.  Yakima River water is reused

for irrigation several times in its passage downstream; the mineral

content being increased each time as material is leached  out of and

dissolved from the soil and evaporation and transpiration.  The

majority of the irrigation return flow enters the river in the reach

between Yakima and Prosser.

     C.  Water Quality Parameters

          1.  Common Mineral Ions

     The most abundant chemical materials found in the Yakima River

and most other natural waters are bicarbonate, chloride,  sulfate,
                        . \
calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium ions.  In the upper portion

of the Yakitna Basin, the concentration of these common ions is very

low and the concentration remains fairly constant throughout the

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                                                                 21




year during varying flows in the river.  As the stream flows toward




its confluence with the Columbia River, the concentration of these




ions is increased by the addition of wastes and,more importantly,  by




waters which have been used for irrigation.  Figure 3 shows the




type of relationship that exists between the concentration of the




common ions and flow for the upper portion of the basin at Cle Elura




and the lower portion at Kiona.  The increasingly greater concentrations




of the common ions at Kiona as the flow is reduced is the result of the




lack of high quality water to dilute the more highly mineralized




wastes from cities, industries, and most importantly, irrigated




areas.  Figure 4 shows how the concentration of the common ions




increases in the downstream direction during the late summer months.




Note the rapid increase between Zillah and Prosser, the reach which




receives the major portion of irrigation return drainage.




     The following sections present a discussion of each of the com-




mon ions.




               a.  Chloride




               Chloride ion can be an important consideration in




selecting a water supply since it imparts a salty taste when present




in a sufficient concentration.  Sources of chloride in water include




natural rock and soil formations and domestic and industrial wastes.




               The Drinking Water Standards recommend a maximum of




250 mg/1 of chloride in drinking water; however,  water supplies with




a concentration of over 1,000 mg/1 have been utilized without




apparent ill effect when necessary.

-------
CJ
d
o
o
H-l
o

c
o
 o

 §
o

 (JO
 e
•rl
 CO
 U

 C
                                              FIGURE 3
Cle Elum Station
                                            Increasing Flovj

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                                    FIGURE 4
        "TJo         uo          Tic
200
        o
        03
        TO
        Cd
td

O
>-<
o
60
p
3
,c
03


O
                                                                                        O
M
(U
n
03
o
                                                                                              a

                                                                                              o
                                                     Location on River
                                                    (Miles  from mouth)

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                                                                 22




               Chloride ion concentration in the Yakima River ranges




from an average of approximately 1 mg/1 at Cle Elum and at the mouth




of the Naches to approximately 2 mg/1 at Parker and 4.5 at Kiona.




It should be noted that the greatest increase takes place in the




reach below Yakima.  Domestic sewage usually increases the chloride




content of the carrying water by approximately 15 mg/1.  Considering




the background chloride concentration and the amount of sewage




entering the Yakima River in comparison with the river discharge,




it must be concluded that domestic sewage is not the principal con-




tributing factor.  Individual samples of irrigation return water




showed chloride concentration ranging from 2 to over 30 mg/1,  thus




indicating that the major chloride contribution is from irrigation




return flow.




               It is apparent that Yakima River waters are well




within the limits set for high quality drinking water and, additionally,




all but possibly a very few industries would find the water of satis-




factory quality with respect to chloride ion content.




               b.  Hardness. Calcium, and Magnesium




               Waters with hardness in the range of zero to 50 or




75 mg/1 are generally considered "soft", while those with a hardness




of 75 to 150 are .considered "moderately hard".  Hard water requires




the use of more soap than soft waters and, in addition, hard waters




may leave a scale deposit on hot water pipes, water heaters, boilers,




etc.  In addition, hard waters may interfere with industrial processes

-------
                                                                 23

such as food processing and some manufacturing processes.  High

pressure boiler water must be especially soft to prevent scaling.

               Hardness (expressed as calcium carbonate) due to

calcium and magnesium in the Yakima River increases from an average

of 22 mg/1 at Cle Elum to approximately 45 mg/1 at Parker and 76

mg/1 at Kiona.  It should be noted that the increase in hardness

between Cle Elum and Parker, a distance of 76 river miles, is less

than the increase between Parker and Kiona, which are only 68 miles

apart.  This condition is due to dilution by the soft (26 ppm)

Naches River water above Parker and to the drainage into the river

below Parker of hard water.  Hardness in the lower portion of the

river increases greatly as the flow decreases.  This can be explained

by the fact that, during high flows, the runoff is mainly from the

ground surface and consequently there is little time for the water

to dissolve calcium, magnesium, and other hardness-producing minerals

from the soil.

              Hardness           Calcium         Magnesium
	Ave.  Min.  Max.  Ave.  Min.  Max.  Ave. Min. Max.

Cle Elum    22          35         4.6   9.5        0.8  3.4

Parker      45          70         7.0  16          1.8  5.8

Kiona       76         145        11    25          3.2 14


     The hardness of Yakima River water in the upper portion of the

Basin is low enough that all but a few industries would find the

water satisfactory without softening.  Water in the lower portion of

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                                                                 24




the Basin during low flow conditions would require softening by




several types of industries.  The water in all portions of the river




would be adequate for domestic use without softening.




               c.   Sul fates




               Sulfate ion is one of the most common anions (vege-




tative) found in surface waters.   It is commonly dissolved from soil




and rock formations by ground and surface waters.   When present in a




sufficient concentration in drinking water,  sulfate ion has a




cathartic effect on humans.  The  Drinking Water Standards recommend




a maximum of 250 mg/1 when better supplies are available; however,




drinking water with a sulfate content of several hundred parts per




million has been used without apparent damage to health.  Waters




containing appreciable amounts of sulfates tend to form hard scales




in boilers, thus reducing the value of such water  for  many industrial




purposes.




               The sulfate content of Yakima River water is well




below the 250 mg/1 recommended drinking water limit.   The average




concentration varies from approximately 2.0 mg/1 at Cle Elum to




about 4 at Parker and approximately 12 at Kiona.  The  relatively




large increase below Parker can be attributed to the discharge of




relatively high sulfate content water from small streams and irriga-




tion return drains.  The sulfate  content of some of these discharges




may. average over 50 mg/1.  The sulfate content of  the  Yakima River in




the lower reaches varies widely with the flow; that is,  it is higher

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                                                                25



at low flow than at high flow.  This does not hold true for the



upper reaches of the river.



               Sulfate concentrations are well below the levels



considered undesirable for domestic and industrial purposes.



               d.  Sodium and Potassium.



               Sodium and potassium are chemically similar and are



widely distributed in the earth's crust.  Consequently,  they  are



commonly found in surface and ground waters.



               The Drinking Water Standards do not specify maximum



allowable concentrations of sodium or potassium.   Excessive quantities



of sodium in drinking water may be harmful to persons suffering from



cardiac or circulatory ailments.  New interest is being shown in the


                                              40
potassium content of water since an isotope (K  ) is radioactive and



is an important contributor to background radiation.  Sodium  plus



potassium concentrations above approximately 50 to 100 mg/1 impair



the usefulness of water for some industrial purposes.  These  con-



centrations cause foaming in boiler waters.  Plants require small



amounts of both sodium and potassium for proper growth,  but in



excessive concentrations they react with soil to  reduce soil



permeability.



     Sodium and potassium concentrations in the Yakima River  are



quite low,  The average concentration ranges from about 1.5 mg/1 at



Cle Elum to 5.5 mg/1 at Parker at 15 mg/1 at Kiona.  Again, the



greater increase in the lower reaches must be attributed to irrigation

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                                                                  26




return flow and the more highly mineralized creeks in that area.




The sodium concentration in these drains at times reaches 50 to 60




mg/1 of sodium.  The average potassium concentration varies from




0.5 mg/1 at Cle Elum to 1.5 at Parker and 3 at Kiona, with maximum




of about 10 mg/1 occuring in irrigation return drains.  It is apparent




that these concentrations are well below the levels associated with




boiler water forrsinG and other industrial limitations.




               the godiuni content of irrigation waters is usually




expressed as either the percent sodium —' or the sodium absorbtion


       2/

ratio. —   The percent sodium value average 16 and 26 at Cle Elum




and Kiona, respectively, and the sodium absorbed ratio average 0.2



                         '                  I/
and 0.6 at these two stations.  One source—^' indicates that water




with a percent sodium less than 20 be rated as "excellent" and water




with a percent sodium of 20-40 be rated as "good".  Using the sodium




absorbed ratio, the same source indicates that water with an SAR less




than 10 be rated excellent.  From these guides, it can be seen that




Yakima River water is highly satisfactory for irrigation purposes.




          2.  Other Chemical Parameters




          The chemical parameters discussed in the following section




are more difficult to discuss as a group than the common ions described
     I/ % Na =   (Ma + K) 100    (all in meq/1)

               Ca + Mg + Na + K




     2/ SAR      Ha    (all in meq/1)
     3/ Ground Water Hydrology. David K. Todd, 1959.

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                                                                 27

in the previous section.  The appropriate chemicals will, therefore,

be discussed individually and appropriate figures and tables used

where needed.

               a.  Alkalinity

               The alkalinity of water is defined as its capacity

to neutralize acid.  Alkalinity in natural water is usually due to

carbonate (COo"), bicarbonate (HC03~), hydroxide (OH") ions and

occasionally to borate, silicate and phosphate ions and organic

substances.  Bicarbonate represents the major form of alkalinity

and is derived naturally from the action of carbon dioxide on the

carbonates of calcium and magnesium such as limestone, dolomite,

magnesite, etc.  Wastes added to a stream may also increase the

alkalinity.  The relative proportions of bicarbonate, carbonate,

and hydroxide alkalinity that exist in a certain water are dependent

upon the pH and, to a lesser extent, on the temperature of the water.

At a pH less than 8.3, there will be only small concentrations of

carbonate and OH~.

               The alkalinity of water has little direct effect on

the value of the water but may have a secondary effect in that high

alkalinities will increase the dissolved solids.  The 1946 Drinking
                                                               i
Water Standards set recommended limits for the various forms of

alkalinity in finished water, but these limits have been omitted in

the 1962 edition.

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                                                                28




               Total alkallnities (expressed as mg/1 of calcium




carbonated) in excess of approximately 50 to 100 limit the use of




water for some industrial purposes such as certain food and




beverage production operations. ~*




     The U. S. Geological Survey measures the carbonate and bicar-




bonate ion concentration at Cle Elum, Parker and Kiona on the Yakima




River.  Average concentration of bicarbonate ion were 29, 58 and




100 mg/1, respectively, at these points,  while the presence of




carbonate ion was detected very rarely.  In sanitary engineering




practice, it is common to express alkalinity as mg/1 of calcium




carbonate.  In this case, the bicarbonate alkalinity,  and since




there is no carbonate alkalinity or hydroxide alkalinity, the total




alkalinity is equal to the bicarbonate ion concentration divided by




1.22.  Thus, the total alkalinity at Cle  Elum, Parker and Kiona




averages 24, 48, and 82 mg/1 as €3003. The alkalinity of the Naches




River at its confluence with the Yakima averaged approximately




30 rag/1 (as CaCO^)—approximately the same as the Yakima River at




Cle Elum.




               Alkalinity values are low  enough throughout most




of the Yakima River so as to not limit the majority of uses of




the water.




                  Bicarbonate Ion Concentrations


Cle Elum
Parker
Kiona
Average
29
58
100
Minimum
23
39
57
Maximum
46
87
195
       I/Water Quality Criteria .  California Water Pollution Control Board.

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                                                                 29




               b.  Fluoride




               Fluorine is a highly reactive element which exists




in nature as fluoride ion.  Fluoride ion is found in many types of




rock and soil, and it is from these materials that fluoride finds its




way into surface and ground water.




               The presence of approximately 1.0 mg/1 of fluoride




ion in drinking water has been shown to significantly reduce the inci-




dence of dental caries in humans.  However, as the concentration of




fluoride increases above 1.5 mg/1, increased incidence of tooth




disfiguration in the nature of mottled enamel (dental fluorosis)




is detected.




               U. S. Geological Survey records of fluoride content




at Cle Elum and Kiona and the Washington Pollution Control Commis-




sion records for the Parker station indicate a relatively constant




value of 0.1 mg/1 with occasional readings of 0.0, 0.2 and 0.3 mg/1.




These levels are too low to be significant benefit for the reduction




of dental caries.




               c.  Hydrogen Ion Concentration




               The pH of Yakima River water tends to be raised by




soluble carbonates originating in the soil and by the photosynthetic




activities of algae.  The pH tends to be lowered by dilution from




low pH surface water and by the absorbtion of carbon dioxide




emanating from decomposing organic matter.

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                                                                 30




               The desirable pH of water depends greatly upon the




use intended for the water.  Stream water with a pH in the range of




6.5 to 8.5 is generally considered normal and satisfactory.  A pH




range of 6.0 to 9.0 is hot uncommon.




               Maximum and minimum pH values noted in available data




for the Yakima River during the past five years were 6.1 at Cle Elum




in August 1961 and 8.9 at West Richland during the summer.  pH values




at any station vary with the seasons of the year, stream flow and time




of day.  There is, however, a detectable increase in pH as the stream




flows toward the Columbia, the average summer pH at the mouth of the




river being approximately ten percent higher than at Cle Elum.  This




increase can be attributed to the increasing presence in the stream




of alkaline materials leached from the soil and to the increasing




algal population as the mouth of the river is approached.   Algal




growth is especially dependent on phosphates and nitrates, both of




which show a significant downstream increase.  A measure of the




effect of algal activity on pH can be obtained by comparing the




values measured in daylight with those measured at night.   During




daylight hours, algae utilize carbon dioxide in the water and produce




oxygen, the process being reversed at night.




               Data obtained by Professor Sylvester during the




summer of 1951 show that daytime pH's exceed nighttime pH1s by as




much as 0.8 in the reach just below Yakima.

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                                                                 31


               The pH data available are generally not sufficiently


complete to confidently identify the effects of any one waste source


on the stream.  The 1951 and 1961 data do show a sharp drop in pH at


Yakima with a rapid recovery.  This may be attributed to dilution by


Naches River water, to carbon dioxide released in the decomposition


of organic matter discharged in the area, or to a combination of the


two.


               pH values found In the Yakima River are In a ttfnge


which is satisfactory for most uses.


               d.  Iron and Manganese


               Iron and manganese are undesirable in water supplies
                         i
used for domestic and many industrial purposes because they discolor


material coming in contact with the water and may cause taste and


odor problems.


               The 1961 Drinking Water Standards recommend a maximum
                        i
                        I
of 0.3 mg/1 and 0.05 mg/1 for iron and manganese, respectively.


               The recommended minimum iron concentration for many


industries, including food processing, is in the 0.1 to 0.2 mg/1


range.


               The iron concentration of Yakima River water is measured


periodically at the cooperative U.  S. Geological Survey-Washington


Pollution Control Commission sampling station.   The average concen-


trations have been generally below 0.05 mg/1 with a maximum of 0.32


mg/1 reported on one occasioa.  A very small number of samples were

-------
                                                                 32

analysed for manganese by Professor Sylvester in the 1954-1956 period.

No manganese was detected in these tests.

               Iron and manganese levels are sufficiently low So

as to not impair legitimate water use.

               e.  Nitrate

               The decomposition of organic material containing

nitrogen proceeds through several steps including ammonia nitrogen
                        M                           i.
(NH3), nitrite nitrogen (N02), and nitrate nitrogen (N03) with liber-

ation of nitrogen gas (N~) under some conditions.  This cycle may

proceed partially in reverse order when no free oxygen is present

(anaerobic conditions).   Analytical methods are available to measure

each of these constituents.  Unless a detailed study of a water

sample is being made, the usual practice is to measure only one or

possibly two of the compounds in the nitrogen cycle.  Nitrate

is most commonly measured on a routine  basis.  Nitrate is the end

product of the nitrogen cycle and is the form which can readily

be used by most plants as a nutrient in their growth.   Since it is

the final product of the cycle, its relative abundance compared to

other forms of nitrogen tells something of the "age" of the pollution.

               Nitrates found in surface and ground waters are most

frequently the result of the decomposition of organic  material; either

naturally occurring organic material, such as decaying vegetation,  or

sewage and industrial waste.  Another source of nitrates in surface

and ground waters and one which is of special interest in the Yakima

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                                                                 33




Basin is from fertilizers applied to the land for agricultural pur-




poses.  Many of these fertilizers contain nitrates for quick utili-




zation by agricultural plants.




     Excessive concentrations of nitrate in drinking water have been




associated with the occurrence of methempglobinemia in infants.




The U. S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards, therefore,




limit the allowable nitrate concentration in drinking water to 45 mg/1




(as N0-j) or approximately 10 mg/1 as N.  Much lower concentrations




of nitrate in combination with phosphate and other necessary materials




stimulate the growth of algae and other aquatic plants to such an




extent that they become a nuisance.




     The average nitrate concentration in the Yakima River increased




from approximately 0.1 mg/1 (as N) in the Easton-Cle Elum area to




approximately 0.2 mg/1 in the Yakima area.  The average concentration




at Kiona is approximately 0.4 mg/1.  Data collected during September,




1961 show concentrations close to those stated above for stations




from Zillah upstream but show a sharp increase below Zillah to a




maximum of approximately 2.5 mg/1 (as N) at Kiona.  Irrigation return




drains discharging to the river below Zillah have shown nitrate con-




centrations as high as 6.0 mg/1.




     These data indicate that irrigation return flow contributes the




major portion of the nitrate load to the river and that municipal and




industrial.wastes discharged in the Yakima area are of relatively less




importance as far as nitrates are concerned.

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                                                                34




               The nitrate concentration in the Yakima River is




well below the level considered dangerous to public health and would




interfere with few industrial processes.  The concentration is,




however, adequate to support a profuse aquatic growth.




               f.  Oxygen




               The dissolved oxygen concentration of a stream is




influenced by (1) the organic load and consequent use of dissolved




oxygen in decomposition of the organic material; (2) the width-depth




relationship and turbulence which governs its physical reaeration




capacity; (3) water temperature which limits the amount of oxygen




which will remain in solution and, further,  governs the rate of




decomposition; (4) the algal population since algae produce an




excess of oxygen during daylight hours and require oxygen during




darkness; (5) turbidity since the presence of turbidity reduces




the transmittance of light and thus reduces the algal activity.




               The threshold concentrations of dissolved oxygen at




which fish and other forms of aquatic life are adversely affected




varies widely with species, age, water temperature, presence of




other material in the water, etc.  Generally speaking, the more




desirable game fish such as salmon and trout require higher oxygen




concentrations than do scrap fish such as suckers,  tench,  bullheads,




etc.  It is the opinion of many that concentrations below approximately




6.0 mg/1 are at least potentially detrimental to game fishes.   In many




eastern and midwestern areas, an objective of 5 mg/1 minimum dissolved

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                                                                35




oxygen has been set.  In the western part of the country, a 6 rag/1




minimum is more often the objective.




               Minimum dissolved oxygen values in the Yakiraa River




above Ellensburg range from approximately 7.5 to 9.0 mg/1 during




the critical summer months.  These values correspond to 75-90




percent of saturation.  Average summer daytime concentrations are




in the range of 9.0 to 10.0 mg/1 with saturation values of 90 to




100 percent.  These values present a picture of essentially unpol-




luted water with only a small amount of oxygen demanding organic




matter, probably naturally occurring aquatic life and little stimu-




lation of algal growth by nutrients and fertilizers which would




tend to give super-saturated conditions during daylight hours.




Dissolved oxygen data collected in September 1961 show a drop of




approximately 0.7 mg/1 in the minimum reading just below the point




where Wilson Creek discharges to the Yakima River.  In its travel




from Wilson Creek to the sampling station at Selah Gap, the dissolved




oxygen concentration recovered to a level approaching that in the




River above Ellensubrg.  Nighttime dissolved oxygen concentrations




in the Yakima River below the City of Yakima dropped progressively




to a low point at Granger where a minimum  reading of 6.5 mg/1 was




observed.  In this same reach of the river, a general increase in




the average daytime dissolved concentration was noted.   These condi-




tions are the same as were observed by the Washington Pollution Control




Commission in their survey during the summer of 1951, except that a




low of 5.5 mg/1 was observed at Granger.

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                                                                 36




               Below Granger, the dissolved oxygen concentration




recovers to a level where minimum values are again in the range of




8 to 9 mg/1.  Daytime values remain high, especially in the area




below Prosser where readings of over 150 percent of saturation have




been observed during summer months.




               Generally speaking, the minimum dissolved oxygen




values observed in the Yakima River are satisfactory to sustain




nearly all types of aquatic life.  The minimum values do,  however,




approach potentially harmful levels.




               g.  Phosphates




               Phosphorous is present in inorganic compounds and,to




a lesser extent, in organic compounds in wastes and receiving waters.




The inorganic compounds of interest in water quality consideration are




the orthophosphates and the polyphosphates; the latter being molecularly




dehydrated and capable of being reverted back to orthophosphates in




water.  When examining water quality data,  care must be taken to




determine the form of phosphorous being measured (ortho-,  poly-, or




the combination of both) and whether or not the phosphorous in sus-




pended matter is included.




               Major sources of phosphates in streams are  domestic




and industrial wastes and runoff from land areas rich in phosphates.




The increased use of synthetic detergents in the last few  years has




increased the amount of phosphorous in domestic sewage since many of




these detergents contain a large amount of phosphorous.   Runoff from

-------
                                                                 37




agricultural areas fertilized by compounds containing phosphorous may




be rich in phosphates.




               The occurrence of phosphorous compounds in wastes and




receiving waters is receiving increased attention as their role in




the production of algal blooms becomes better understood.   Research




has shown that blooms do not occur when sufficient nitrogen and




phosphorous are not present.  The concentration of phosphorous




below which algal blooms do not occur has been established as




approximately 0.01 mg/1




               Soluble orthophosphates measured as phosphate (POA~)




range from .001 or .002 mg/1 in the Easton area to 0.05 -  .10 mg/1




in the Yakima area.  In the reach of the river between Zillah and




Mabton, the phosphate concentration during the irrigation  season




increases rapidly to a level of 0.2 to 0.25 mg/1;  then remains




fairly constant at that level to the mouth of the  river.   Work by




Professor Sylvester indicates that the combination of orthophosphates




in solution and suspension may be two to three times higher than




soluble phosphate alone for water in the lower reaches of  the river.




This can be attributed to the uptake of soluble phosphorous by




aquatic organisms.




     Sampling conducted in the Fall of 1961 shows  that the soluble ortho-




phosphate level increases gradually from the headwaters down to




Zillah, increases rapidly between Zillah and Mabton,  then  declines




slightly between Mabton and the mouth of the river.   This  shows

-------
                                                                 38




quite clearly that irrigation return flows contribute the major por-




tion of the phosphates since most of the irrigation return drain




discharge to the river between Zillah and Mabton.  The slight




decline at the lower end of the river can be attributed to the




uptake of soluble phosphorous by aquatic organisms.




               The phosphate concentrations found in the Yakima




River are below levels known to be harmful for domestic and indus-




trial use.  The concentration in the lower reaches of the river is,




however, high enough to support large plankton populations.




               h.  Silica




               Silica (Si(>2) is present in natural surface water in




concentration ranging from 5 to over 50 mg/1.   Silica is suspended




or dissolved in water as the water percolates  through or otherwise




comes in contact with such materials as silica sands and quartz.




               The Drinking Water Standards do not limit the concen-




tration of silica permitted in water supplies.  Silica is, however,




detrimental to certain industrial processes.  Silica is particularly




undesirable in boiler feed waters, since it forms deposits in




piping and on turbine blades.  Silica is a necessary constituent




in some aquatic organisms, especially diatoms where the compound is




used in the skeletal structure.






     \l J.M.

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                                                                 39

               Recommended maximum silica concentrations for boiler

feed waters —  range from 1 mg/1 for boilers operated at 400 psi

and over to 40 mg/1 for low pressure boilers.  Some pulp and paper

making processes require maximum silica concentrations of 20 mg/1.—

               Data on silica concentrations in the Yakima River are

available for three years at Cle Elum and Klona and for one year at

Parker.  Average concentrations were 8 mg/1 at Cle Elum, 15 mg/1 at

Parker and 25 mg/1 at Kiona.  Extremes were a low of 5.0 at Cle Elum

and a high of 39 mg/1 at Kiona.  As with other mineral constituents

in the Yakima River, the concentrations of silica tend to vary

inversely with the flow.

          3.  Physical Parameters

               a.  Color

               The term "color" refers to the color of the water

after suspended solids have been removed.  Natural color may be

imparted to water in its contact with organic debris such as leaves,

conifer needles and decaying wood or by some iron compounds.  Certain

industrial wastes such as textile dyeing and wood pulping wastes also

impart color to water.

               The presence of natural color in water has little

sanitary significance.  However, highly colored drinking waters are

undesirable from the aesthetic standpoint and, further, -some indus-

trial processes require water with a low color content.
      I/ Water Quality Criteria. California Water Pollution Control
 Board.

-------
                                                                40




               Incomplete color data for the Yaklma show that color




increases from an average of approximately 5 ppm at Cle Elum to an




average of 15-20 ppm in the lower reaches of the river.  A reading




of 40 ppm was noted at Enterprise while maxima in upstream stations




were in the 20-25 ppm range.  The lack of data precludes an analysis




to determine the relationship between color and streamflow, season,




etc.




               b.  Solids




               There are several designations of "solids" depending




upon the analytical method used in making the determination.   Total




solids (also referred to as "total residue") is the term applied to




the material remaining in a vessel after all water has been evaporated




and the material dried at a certain temperature. . This material con-




tains minerals and other compounds whic h were formerly dissolved as




well as silt particles, plankton, etc., which were in a suspended




state.  The temperature at which the residue is dried will affect the




weight of the residue by:   (1) varying degrees of volatization of




of organic matter, (2) varying degrees of evaporation of chemically




combined water, and (3) chemical changes such as liberation or com-




bination of gases brought about by the heating.  Common drying tempera-




tures are 104 and 180 degrees Centigrade.




               Total solids are often broken down to suspended




solids and dissolved solids (filtrable and non-filtrable residue).




The basis of this breakdown is a filtration process, the filter being

-------
                                                                 41




a crucible or filter paper.  The material retained on the filter




after evaporation and drying is the suspended or non-filtrable resi-




due, while that passing through the filter is termed dissolved solids




or non-filtrable residue upon evaporation and drying.  In addition




to the analytical limitations described for solids, the filtration




step adds further limitations to the reproducibility of the results.




The term dissolved solids is not strictly accurate because the classi-




fication includes colloidal matter not removed by the filter.




               In addition to the classification mentioned above,




there are fixed and volatile solids which indicate the relative




abundance of inorganic and organic material.  Settleable solids,




used most frequently with regard to wastes, indicates the amounts




of solid material which will settle from suspension in a prescribed




time.




               The U. S. Public Health Service Drinking Water




Standards recommend that the concentration of dissolved solids in




drinking water not exceed 500 mg/1.  Water with concentrations some-




what higher than this are used where higher quality water is not




available.  Waters with a very high (well in excess of 500 mg/1)




dissolved solids content may have a laxative effect on new users




and, in general, will affect the palatability of the water.   No




lasting harmful physiological effects have been noted, however, from




the use of waters with a high dissolved solids content.

-------
                                                                 42

               Certain industrial processes including the manufacture

of high grades of paper and textiles, and boiler feed water may

require water with a dissolved solids concentration in the 50 to

200 mg/1 range.  Most other industrial processes can utilize waters

of a high dissolved solids content.

               The Drinking Water Standards do not set limits for

suspended solids as such.  However, suspended solids are related to

turbidity and a high suspended solids concentration will produce a

high turbidity.  High suspended solids content, of course, affects

the aesthetic quality of a drinking water and may cause a health

hazard by entrapping, and thus insulating, pathogenic organisms from

the effects of chlorine and increases the cost of water treatment by

necessitating the construction of facilities to remove the suspended

matter.

               Excess concentrations of suspended solids are harmful

to many industrial processes.   Again, limiting values are almost

always set in terms of turbidity rather than suspended solids.
                     /
               Material settling from suspension in streams can have

an adverse effect on aquatic life.  The deposited material blankets

bottom life, thus interrupting the food chain, and may covnr and

suffocate fish eggs and young.  Excess quantities of material in

suspension may also have a clogging and abrasive effect on the

gills of fish.

-------
                                                                 43




               Agencies collecting water quality data in the Yakitna




Basin measure different solids constituents, thus making a direct




comparison of results difficult.  Dissolved solids, evaporated and




dried at 180 degrees Centigrade, are measured at the cooperative




Washington Pollution Control Commission-U. S. Geological Survey




sampling stations at Cle Elum, Parker, and Kiona.  The average con-




centrations at these points are 35, 70 and 135 mg/1, respectively,




with a maximum of 236 mg/1 at Kiona and a minimum of 27 mg/1 at




Cle Elum.  Samples collected during the summers of 1951 and 1961




were analyzed for total solids.  The results of these surveys showed




total solids concentrations (evaporated and dried at 103 degrees




Centigrade) of 20 to 70 mg/1 in the River above Yakima with a sharp




rise to 300-350 mg/1 in the reach below Yakima.  Suspended solids




accounted for less than ten percent of the total in most cases.




               The sharp increase in total solids noted in the reach




of the stream below Yakima can be attributed to municipal and indus-




trial wastes discharged in the area and probably to a greater extent




to irrigation return flow.  No samples for total or suspended solids




have been collected during periods of heavy runoff, but it could be




expected that they would show a relatively larger portion of sus-




pended material than during the dry summer months.




               The solids content of Yakiraa River water is well below




the level affecting its use as a source of domestic water, but in the




lower reaches of the river, certain industries would find the solids




concentration too high.

-------
                                                                 44


                c.  Tempera ture



               Water temperature is an important consideration when


assessing the sanitary quality of water.  Although in the past not


commonly considered as a "pollutant", high water temperatures can



seriously impair the usefulness of the water for many purposes.



               Temperature has an important effect on the biochemical


activity in streams.  Over the temperature range found in natural



bodies of water, there is an approximate doubling of the biochemical



activity with each ten degree Centigrade rise in temperature



(van1t Hoff rule).  This means that organic wastes will be stabilized



in a much shorter time in warm water than in cold water and that


there will be a need for greater dissolved oxygen supply and/or



reaeration capa city in a stream.  It should be remembered too that



the dissolved oxygen saturation value decreases as the temperature


increases.



               Most fish have optimum temperatures at which they


live and grow best and beyond which they are harmed or killed.   The



limiting temperature beyond which salmon will either be killed  or


move to other waters appears to be approximately 75 degrees Fahren-


heit.   A temperature of 83 degrees Fahrenheit has been reported to

                                          !/
be the upper limit for some trout species.    Other fish, such  as



large mouth bass, pumpkin seed sunfish,  and other species have  been
     \l Water Quality Criteria.

-------
                                                                 45



found alive and apparently in satisfactory condition in water at


                      I/
89 degrees Fahrenheit.



               High water temperatures tend to stimulate the growth



of algae and other aquatic plants.  Most species of algae have an



optimum temperature for maximum growth and reproduction.



               Temperature affects the suitability of water for



drinking purposes.  When the temperature exceeds 60-65 degrees F,



the water is considered objectionable for drinking by most consumers.—



Many industrial processes have limiting temperatures requirements.



Examples are:   55 degrees F. for barley malting, 60 degrees F. for



many farms and dairy factors, and 75 degrees F., for use in steel



mills.""   Water to be used for cooling should, of course, be as cool



as possible for maximum beneficial use.



               Records of daily water temperatures are available for



Kiona, Cle Elum and Parker and, in addition, data gathered during the



summer of 1955 in the lower Yakima valley is tabulated in the



Appendix of this report. , The four year average temperature at



Cle Elum ranged from 35 degrees F. in January and February to 54



degrees F. in July.  Extremes recorded during this period were 32



and 61 degrees.  Six years of record at the Kiona station show the



yearly average minimum of 37 degrees F. occurring in January and



the average maximum of 73 degrees F. occurring in July.  Extremes



recorded were 32 degrees F. and 81 degrees F.  Daily records are



available for only ten months at the Parker station.  These show a

-------
                                                                 46




minimum yearly average of 35 degrees F. in January and a maximum




average of 61 degrees F. in June.  Records are not available for




July and August.




               Recording thermographs were installed at three sta-




tions in the Lower Yakima Valley during the summer of 1955 to pro-




vide a continuous record of air and water temperatures.  The sta-




tions were located at the Wapato-Donald Bridge (No. 1), the




Chandler power drop below Prosser (No. 2), and at the mouth of the




river (No. 3).




               The purpose of the survey was to determine the effect




of irrigation return flow on Yakima River water temperature and to




attempt to correlate air and water temperatures.  Station No. 1 is




above the point where significant irrigation return flows reach the




river, while Station No. 2 (and No. 3) is below major return flows.




The flow time between Station Nos. 1 and 2 was approximately thirty-




five hours, and between Nos. 2 and 3, nine hours.  The data showed an




average temperature increase of 14 degrees F. between Stations Nos. •




1 and 2, and 1.5 degrees between Stations 2 and 3.  The majority of




the increase between Stations Nos. 1 and 2  was attributed to irri-




gation return flow warmed in the canals, ditches, and during its




application to warm soil.  A high correlation between air and water




temperature was noted.




               It is apparent that water temperatures in the lower




Yakima River reach levels detrimental to several uses during the




low flow-high air temperature period in the late summer.

-------
                                                                 47




               d.  Turbidity




               Turbidity is caused by suspended organic and inorganic




particles in water and is a measure of the light scattering or




absorbing power of the solution.  Turbidity is measured and reported




in "turbidity units" rather than milligram per liter or parts per




million, the units commonly used in water quality work.




               Turbidity in streams may result from a wide variety




of sources, including land erosion by surface runoff, stream bank




erosion, municipal and industrial wastes, municipal street cleaning




operations, etc.  The sanitary significance of turbidity rests in




its effect on ease of operation and efficiency of water treatment




plants and the damage caused to aquatic life by the blanketing




of stream beds with settled material.




               The Drinking Water Standards turbidity in the




finished water is to 5 turbidity units and a number of industrial




users require water with a maximum turbidity of 1 to 20 units.




               Turbidity values averaged approximately 2-5 in the




Cle Elum area and 10-20 in the lower reaches of the river where a




maximum of 110 was recorded.  Values somewhat higher may occur




during periods of rapid runoff.




               The limited amount of turbidity data available for




the Yakima indicates significantly higher turbidity values in the




lower reach of the river as compared to the upper reaches.   This is




quite probably due mainly to surface runoff from farm lands.   This

-------
                                                                 48




contention is further verified by the fact that higher than average




turbidity values were recorded during rainy periods.   The data show




a poor correlation between stream discharges and turbidity.  This




may be explained by the fact that highest stream flows occur in the




late spring and are due to snow melt in the high mountains where




ground cover is adequate to prevent excessive erosion.




               Turbidity concentrations are sufficiently high to




require treatment for domestic and many industrial uses throughout




most of main stem of the Yakima River.




          4.  Biological Parameters




               a.  Bacteria




               The bacterial quality of water is most frequently




gaged by the number of coliform bacteria found in a given volume of




water.  The coliform bacteria concentration in a water sample is




usually expressed as the "most probable number" (HPN) per one




hundred milliliters of the water-




               The Public Health Service has published recommendations




based on bacterial content concerning the degree of treatment that




should be provided waters to be used for drinking.  A summary of




these recommendations is as follows:




     Group I - Water Requiring No Treatment.  Underground waters not




     subject to any possibility of contamination and meeting all




     requirements of the Drinking Water Standards.

-------
                                                                 49




     Group II - Water Requiring Simple Chlorinatlon or Its




     Equivalent.  Underground and surface waters subject to a




     low degree of contamination where the coliform bacteria




     content averages not more than 50 per 100 ml in any month.






     Group III - Waters Requiring Complete Rapid-Sand Filtration




     or Its Equivalent. Together with Continuous Postchlorination.




     All waters requiring filtration to remove turbidity, color,




     etc., and waters polluted by sewage to such an extent to be




     inadvisable to groups I and II.  The coliform bacteria con-




     tent should, however, not average more than 5,000 per ml in




     any one month.  In addition, the 5,000 figure should not be




     exceeded in more than 20 percent of the samples in any month.






     Group IV - Waters Requiring Auxiliary Treatment in Addition to




     Complete Filtration and Postchlorination.   Waters meeting the




     requirements of Group III except that the coliform bacteria




     content exceeds 5,000 per 100 ml in more than 20 percent of the




     samples in a month.  To meet Group III standards,  the coliform




     content must not exceed 20,000 per 100 ml in more than 5 per-




     cent of the samples in any month.






               Many industries, especially food processing industries,




require water of bacterial quality equal to or higher than for




drinking purposes.  In addition to the health hazard in using waters

-------
                                                                 50



of unsatisfactory bacterial quality for food processing,  economic



losses caused by food spoilage would occur.



               Uniform bacterial quality standards have not been



developed for waters to be used for irrigation.   In general,  waters



used to irrigate human foodstuffs, especially those to be eaten raw,



should be of high quality.  The State of Utah has developed a



tentative standard of 5,000 coliform bacteria per 100 ml  maximum


                       I/
for general irrigation.



               Bacterial limits for natural  bathing waters vary



greatly in different parts of the country.   The  Pacific Northwest



Pollution Control Council has developed a recommended limit of 240



coliform organisms per 100 ml for the Northwest.   This limit  is in



general accepted by Pacific Northwest States.



               Coliform bacteria concentrations  are measured  once



a month at Cle Elum and Parker on the Yakima River and on the Naches



River at Naches by the Washington Pollution  Control Commission.



Records for one year only are available.   They show an average MPN



per 100 ml of 125 at Cle Elum, 10,900 at Parker,  and 660  at Naches



with maxima, of 930, 460,000 and 2,300, respectively.   Results of



summer surveys conducted during the summers  of 1951 and 1961  corres-



ponded closely and showed the coliform MPN increasing from approxi-



mately 100 per 100 ml at Easton to 2,500-4,000 below Ellensburg,



then dropping to approximately 1,000 just above  Yakima.  Immediately



below Yakima, the MPN jumped to 25,000-50,000 level,  dropped  back to

-------
                                                                 51




1,500-2,500 level, then fluctuated generally between 1,000 and 5,000




in the remainder of the stream.




               The most striking feature of the data is the sharp increase




in the MPN below the City of Yakitna.  Municipal wastes from the city are




given primary treatment with chlorination.  The high MPN below the city




can be attributed to inadequate chlorination of the treatment plant efflu-




ent, the discharge of untreated domestic and industrial wastes to the




river, or the combination of these factors.  MPN's higher than the river




MPN occur in a number of small streams or irrigation return drains in the




lower Yakima valley.  Most of the municipal wastes discharged to these




watercourses are chlorinated and, again, the high MPN's can be attributed




to inadequate chlorinating, untreated municipal and industrial wastes, and




runoff from irrigated areas, livestock feeding areas,  etc.




               Complete treatment would be required for municipal and




some industrial water supplies if the main stem of the Yakima River is




to be used as a source of water.




               b.  Plankton




               Heavy growths of plankton and higher forms are found in




the Yakima River from Roza diversion dam to the mouth.  The photosynthesis




and respirational activities of these organisms cause  a.wide diurnal




fluctuation in dissolved oxygen,  pH, alkalinity, C02,  etc., in the




Yakima River.  The abundance of such organisms causes  nuisance problems




which would be magnified greatly if the lower Yakima were ever to be used




for water supply purposes.  CRBP Working Paper No. 13  sets forth the




results of certain biological investigations in the Basin.

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                                                                  52


 V.   INTERPRETATION OF WATER QUALITY DATA


      A.   Physical and Chemical Constituents
              i

           1.  Irrigation  and Industrial Use


           The chemical quality of Yakima River water Is  satisfactory


 for the majority of industrial uses throughout the  full  length of the


 river.  A number of industrial uses which require especially high


 quality water--such as high pressure boilers, certain products,


 etc.--would, however, require special treatment of  the waters


 found in  the lower reaches  of the river.  It seems  that, in the


 absence of some other over-riding consideration, industries


 requiring high quality water would tend to locate in the upper por-


 tion of the basin or.in some other basin with higher quality water.


 The dissolved solids concentrations of the Yakima River  at Kiona


 average,  for example, 29  percent higher than the Columbia below


 its confluence with the..Yakima.  Furthermore, the maximum yearly


 concentration averages some 56 percent higher.


           2.  Public Water  Supply Use


           The turbidity and color concentration which occur periodi-


 cally in  the Yakima River would make necessary treatment of the water


 for use in municipal systems in all but possibly the uppermost reaches


 of  the river.  The high temperature of water found  in the lower


.reaches would, during the summer months, make the water objection-


 able  for  domestic use.

-------
                                                                53




          The concentration of chemical constituents that have been




measured are within the requirements set forth in the PHS Drinking




Water Standards throughout the full length of the river.  Certain




elements and compounds such as arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium,




copper, cyanide, lead, selinium, and silver have not been adequately




measured to determine compliance with the Standards.




          A secondary effect on municipal and, in some instances,




industrial supplies resulting from the nitrate and phosphate con-




centrations in the river is a taste and odor problem caused by




algae.  It was noted earlier in the report that the concentration




of these two key compounds is sufficient in the tower reaches of




the river to produce sizable algae populations.  These growths may




well include species which generate taste and odor problems in the




stream.




          3.  Fish Habitat




          The dissolved oxygen content of the river has not been




measured at levels which are known to be detrimental to fish life.




Minimum values in the ranges of 5.5 to 6.5 mg/1 have,  however,  been




detected.  This content is considered by some authorities to be at




least potentially harmful.  The effect on fish of relatively high




temperatures, reaching a maximum of approximately 80 degrees P.,




should be of greater concern than the dissolved oxygen levels found




in the Yakima River.

-------
                                                                54



          During the growing seasons, a variety of chemical sub-




stances are applied to lands in the Yakima Basin for such purposes




as insect control in forests, insect and weed control on agri-




cultural lands and weed control in irrigation return drains.   Many




of these chemicals are known to kill fish and organisms on which




the fish feed at very low concentrations.  The concentration  of




these materials is not known to damage aquatic life in the Yakima




River, but with the rapid increase in the use of such pesticides in




agriculture, it would seem that monitoring for these compounds would




be advisable.




          The largest factor affecting the fish habitat remains to




be, however, the low flow situation occurring in certain headwater




and main stem reaches.




          4.  Recreational and Aesthetic Value




          The conditions of temperature, turbidity, and algal pop-




ulation found in the lower reaches of the Yakima River impair its




recreational and aesthetic value during the summer months. Condi-




tions are, however, very favorable to these values in the portion




of the Basin above Yakima.




     B.  Biological Constituents




          1.  Industrial Use




          The bacterial concentrations found in the Yakima River




below Yakima would make necessary complete treatment including




disinfection before the water would be usable for certain industries,

-------
                                                                55




such as some food processing industries,  requiring waters of high




bacterial quality.  Most industries would,  however, find the




bacterial quality, especially in the upper  reaches, satisfactory




for their use.




          The usefulness of Yakima River  water for industrial pro-




cesses incorporating the water in a product could be impaired by




tastes and odors produced by plankton growths during certain periods




in the lower portion of the river.  Further, localized problems of




screen clogging, etc.,  could occur.  Little data are presently avail-




able on the occurence,  numbers,  and types of plankton present in the




river.  It is known, however, that the nutrient concentrations,




temperatures, and other necessary factors are adequate to sustain




abundant plankton populations, and the limited data available show .




relatively high plankton population during  certain summer periods.




          2.  Public Water Supply Use




          The coliform  bacteria  content of  the Ynkima River is such




that a minimum treatment consisting of chlorination only would be




required in all areas and, throughout the  majority of the river,




complete treatment would be required.  In the reaches of the river




immediately below Yakima, the bacteria concentration found in the




river would preclude its use as  a municipal water supply, even with




complete treatment, if  the Public Health  Service recommendations are




followed.




          The existing  and potential problems associated with plankton




were mentioned earlier.

-------
                                                                 56




          3.  Recreation and Aesthetic Use




          The bacterial concentrations in the headwater areas are




very low and should permit all types of recreational activity,




including swimming.  Throughout the main stem and especially in that




portion below the Yakitna, the bacterial concentration exceeds the




recommended maximum of 240 per 100 ml for swimming during summer




periods.  Recognizing that certain portions of the lower river may




have a low coliform content because of the die-off of populations




found upstream,  it would seem desirable to examine individual




tion areas separately to determine Che adequacy of the wafceu




various recreational usco«




     C.  Adequacy of Water Data




     The adequacy of water data can only be evaluated in light of




the use intended for the data.  Here, the evaluation is made of the




adequacy of the data to gain a general understanding of the Basin's




water resources, its present and potential values and limitations.




     The Subcommittee on Hydrology of the Columbia Basin Inter-Agency




Committee has published a study in which existing and recommended




hydrologic data collection stations are listed.  Their recommendations




call for an increase from 32 to 46 in stream gaging stations, an




increase from 8 to 16 in snow survey courses, and no increase in the




present number  (20) of hydroclimatic stations.  The recommended number




of water quality sampling stations has been exceeded by recent




installations.

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                                                                 57



     Considerably more detailed data are needed to define the




nutrients—algal population relationship--and to determine the




present and potential effect of their relationship on water use.




     The existing system of collecting routine chemical and physical




data seems to be adequate with the possible exception of sample




scheduling.  The present practice is to collect and composite




samples at the Parker and Kiona stations until a significant change




in conductivity is noted.  A new composite is then begun.  The two




stations are not now correlated in such a manner that the periods of




collection coincide; hence, it is difficult to make direct compari-




sons between the two stations.




     An important data collection requirement  not now being fully




met is for more information on the occurrence, concentrations, and




effect of organic pesticides in the Basin.  The PHS station at




Richland collects this type of information, but peak concentrations




which may occur in the Basin cannot be detected because of the




diluting effect of the uncontaminated water.




     Bacteriological investigations are needed to better define the




problems of rural water supply contamination and to explore in general




the effect of existing bacterial concentrations on the use of water




in the Basin.

-------
APPENDIX

-------
                                                        Appendix-1
                               Table 2

       Distribution of Employment in theYakima Basin. 1950 -
Compared with the Distribution of Employment in Washington and Oregon

                                             Percentage Distribution
           Industry Group                   In Yakima  In Washington
 	.__	Basin	and Oregon

 Goods	   41.8         33.4
   Agriculture	   24.4         10.5
   Forestry and fisheries	    0.1          0.7
   Mining	    1.0          0.4
   Manufacturing, total	   16.3         21.8
     Lumber, wood prod., furn. & fix.  ...    1.6         10.0
     Food and kindred	    3.0          2.5
     Chemicals and related	    9.5          0.7
     Printing and publishing	    0.8          1.3
     All other manufacturing	    1.4          7.3
 Services  .	   56.8         65.1
   Construction	   11.9          7.9.
   Transp., Comm., Utilities 	    7.1          8.9
   Trade (wholesale and retail)	   17.1         20.6
   All other services	   20.7         27.7
 Industry not reported	. . . .    1.4          1.5

 Employed labor force, total ........  100.0        100.0
 a./  Kittitas and Yakima Counties and the portion of Benton County
 within the Yakima Basin.

-------
TABLE 3
Location
Near
Sunnyside
Near
Toppenish
Upper
Ahtanum
Valley

Lower
Ahtanum
Valley
In Yakima
Wanas
Valley





Selah


Well
Depth
(ft)
99

160
863
146
11
384
1078
18
30
213
85
Spring
127
60
385
400
115
Spring
131


Derap
61

•••
69
.._
--
60
63
__
--
--
—
59
--
--
55
--
--
52
54


Color
5

•. «.
0
5
10
0
8
25
25
5
15
__
--
--
--
--
--
--
5


pH
7.9

„ _
7.8
7.7
7.3
7.9
7.9
7.2
7.2
7.3
7.3
7.6
8.3
7.7
7.2
7.5
7.4
7.7
7.9


M.C.
Hard
24

_ _
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
32
35
0
11
0
0
0
0
0
0


Total
Hard
179

87
42
80
49
54
57
117
107
141
130
158
183
256
50
1C7
78
57
338


Dis.
Solids
315

136
158
155
111
149
114
205
209
251
221
262
309
445
167
205
162
156
559


Si02
57

32
68
54
47
53
38
51
52
61
39
66
58
53
42
59
61
53
57


Fe
.01

.05
.08
.02
.11
.05
.24
.02
.03
.03
.02
.02
.02
.03
.13
.03
.07
.06
.00


Ca
48

22
13
16
10
13
12
24
23
30
34
32
42
GO
12
23
16
12
84


Mg
14.0

7.9
2.2
9.7
5.8
5.3
6.6
14.0
12.0
16.0
11.0
19. 0:
19.0
26.0
7.2
12.0
9.2
6.6
31.0


,.
17,0)

6.S!
ID-®
10.©
5.6
17.®
7.2
1&.',0;
4..Q-
4,8;
4.,3.
6..3.


CO 3
0

' 0
0
: 0
0
0
. 0
0
0
0
0
1 0
0
I °
0
0
\ o
0
0

i
HC03
190

113
105
116
74
113
85
180
160
133
116
193
210
442
124
146
116
104
459


so4
44.0

5.1
0.3
4.4
24.0
0.4
4.4
5.1
8.0
29.0
21.0
18.0
21.0
20.0
9.8
10.0
3.3
9.2
50, a


Cl
11.0

2.7
1.0
3.0
0.7
1.8
1.2
2.5
11.0
18.0
26.0
9.1
20.0
5.2
2.0
5.2
2.4
1.8
13-0


F
0.4

0.0
0.6
0.2
0.2
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.2
0.4
0.6.

N03
2.3

2.0
0.2
1.6
1.0
0.1
0.2
1.8
1.5
2.7
6.0
3.1
1.6
6.2
0.1
2.1
0.7
0.3
7.0
1 '
»*
.07

__
...
__
—
—
--
__
--
—
—
_»
—
—
-_
--
--
—
— —
•>*
Continued S
                                                         ro
                                                         1

-------
                                            TABLE 3 (Continued)
Location
Yakima
Firing
Center*
Prosser


North of
Benton
City
North of
Richland
Ellensburg
Well
Depth
(ft)
550
550
502
599
740
420


228

1209
Temp
0F
62
68
66
63
60
__


_-

55
Color
5
0
0
0
5
5


5

0
pH
7.6
7.8
7.7
7.5
7.8
7.7


9.2

7.4
N.C.
Hard
0
0
0
0
0
38


0

0
Total
Hard
152
83
Dis.
Solids
272
174
Si02
49
49
Fe
.03
.04
Ca
33
16
Mg
17.0
11.0
Benton County
56
68
67
182


39

Kit
83
229
248
236
262


130

t i t i
151
59
50
46
51


18

3 S
58
.05
.12
.06
.68


.05

C c
.02
14
17
16
38


9.2

3 U
18
5.1
6.1
6.6
.21


3.8

n t -
9.2
Na
30.0
18.0
43.0
54.0
46.0
13.0


25.0

f
8.6
K
4.9
3.7
12
9.8
10
4.8


£.8

2.0
C03
0
0
0
0
0
0


16

0
HC03
225
147
187
221
202
176


58

120
S04
L9.0
0.6
4.8
0.1
0.6
4.3


2.1

1.3
Cl
8.4
3.9
6.5
11.0
9.5
7.5


10.0

2.0
F
0.6
0.5
0.6
0.9
0.7
0.2


1.0

0.2
NO 3
4.6
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
4.5


0.3

0.8
P04
..
•"•
.11.
.08
.09
__


._

.25
*Averages of several wells.
                                                                                                           (0
                                                                                                           3
                                                                                                           O.

-------
                                    Appendix-4
Yaklma River Flow Data
        (cfs)
1955
Date
July
30
31
August
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Plow at
Parker

. 808
sr2<

876
888
648
536
380
620
609
662
574
420
, 623
350 ,
592
748
836
800
654
707
724
612
469
568
462
480
355
364
463
336
402
443
324
1% Day Lag
at Parker
'



810
844
882
768
592
458
500
615
636
618
497
522
487
471
620
792
818
727
.681
715
668
541
519
515
471
418
359
414
400
369
423
Flow at
Kiona




2230
2260
2270
V2260
2100
1900
1800
1910
1840
1720
1660
1530
1560
1490
1750
1810
1840
1720
1710
1780
1730
1750
1850
1790
1790
1740
1690
1780
1780
1790
1840
Difference
(Return)




1420
1416
1388
1492
1508
1542
1330
1295
1204
1102
1163
1008
1073
1019
1130
1092
1022
993
1029
1065
1062
1209
1331
1275
1319
1322
1331
1366
1380
1420
1417

-------
                                    Appendix-5
Yakima River Flow Data
  (Continued)  (cfs)
1955
Date


Sept.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Flow at
Parker
443
329

494
608
441
426
426
402
453
461
318
232
287
250
374
414
452
694
808
496
508
283
204
156
312
261
189
240
260
565
421
352
1% Day Lag
at Parker



384
409
551
525
434
426
414
428
457
390
275
240
249
312
413
433
578
751
652
502
396
244
180
234
287
225
215
250
413
493
Flow at
Kiona



1830
1780
2050
2050
1940
1950
1960
1950
2000
1980
1910
1890
1880
1920
2010
2100
2500
2570
2450
2320
2180
2020
1960
1980
1980
1940
2000
2000
2060
2240
Difference
(Return)



1446
1371
1499
1525
1506
1524
1546
1522
1543
1590
1635
1650
1631
1608
1597
1667
1922
1719
1898
1818
1784
1776
1780
1746
1693
1715
1785
1750
1547
1747

-------
                                                   Appendix-6
                    STATION NO. I
                Donald-Wapato Bridge
Water and Air Temperatures in Degrees, of Fahrenheit
       August
September
19S5
Date
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Water Tetnp.
Max.
65
62
61
62
64
64
64
62
62
63
62
62
58
59
59
59
60
60
61
60
58
59
58
57
56
56
57
57
57
57
57
Min.
57
56
53
53
55
56
56
55
53
53
55
53
51
51
51
52
52
52
53
53
50
51
50
49
48
48
48
49
49
50
49
Avg,
61
59
57
57
59
60
60
58
57
58
58
58
54
55
55
55
55
56
56
56
54
55
54
52
52
53
52
53
53
53
53
Air Temp.
Max.
84
79
80
86
90
95
92
85*
85
90
87*
81
81
84*
87*
85*
86
87*
88
82
81*
83*
81
80
77
78
83
81
88
89
86
Min.
61
60
56
54
55
57
62
55
55
55
69
62
55
55
61
62
59
59
^68
60
51
60
59
57
53
55
53
60
53
59
54
Avg.
73
70
68
69
72
76
77
70
70
72
78
71
68
70
74
74
68
74
78
71
68
72
70
69
65
67
68
71
70'
74
70
Water Temp.
Max.
56
57
58
58
57
57
55
54
55
56
55
53
48
47
47
48
48
49
50
50
'46
45
48
48
47
46
44
45
45
45

Min.
48
50
51
51
50
50
51
49
48
48
47
46
47 .
45
43 '
43
42
43
44
45
42
40
41
43
41
41
43
41
39
39

Avg.
52
53
54
54
53
53
53
51
52
52
51
49
48
46
45
46
45
45 -
47
47
44
43
44
45
44
43
44
43
42
42

Air Temp.
Max.
88*
89
92
91
91
91
87
76
82
84
82
78*
65
65
64
67
70
76
80
67
64
65
72
71
73
70
58
64
68
69

Min.
53
55
•62
58
56
58
71
63
53
53
59
47*
50*
50 .
46
46
46
51
46
47
47
37
46
43
40
38
55
45
39
41

Avf»
71
72
77
75
73
74
79
70
67
68
71
63
57
57
50
56
58
64
63
57
56
51
59
57
56
54
56
60
53
55
!

-------
                                                   Appendix-7
                    STATION Nd,  2
                      Chandler
Water and Air Temperatures in Degrees  of Fahrenheit
1933
Ba£§
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Wftf@f fgffi^i Aif temp, Wai
MSK,
74
74
73
73
75
76
75
75
75
76
77
74
73
74
74
74
74
76
75
74
74
74
73
72
70
71
71
71
71
73
72
Min.
67
66
65
64
64
66
67
67
66
66
67
66
6k
64
65
65
65
66
67
66
64
65
65
64
63
62
62
63
62
63
74
.Jtojy,
70
70
69
69
69
71
71
71
71
71
72
70
68
69
69
69
70
71
71
70
69\
69
69
68
66
66
66
67
67
68
68
Max,
88
86
84
87
96
99
97
87
88
95
95

85
90
90
89
92
98
94
89
86
92
98
85
80
84
85
84

89
94
Min.
60
48
45
46
50
52
57
53
48
50
54
48
46
46
49
51
50
53
56
53
51
53
53
52
47
43
43
43
47
46
45
.J^tL-,
74
67
es
67
73
76
77
70
68
73
75
66
66
68
70
70
71
75
75
71
69
72
75
68
63
63,
64
64
68
67
69
Max.
73
72
72
72
72
71
71
67
69
69
69
68.
64
61
60.
62
62
62
63
63
60
60
61
60
61
60
' 58
70
59
60

€? TSmp,
Min,
63
64
65
65
65
56
65
64
62
62
62
61
61
60
56
57
56
57
57
59
57
55
56
55
54
54
57
55
54
54

Avg.
68
68
60
68
69
68
68
66.
66
66
65
65
63
60
58
59
59
59
60
61
59
58
58
57
57
57
57
57
57
57
	 -
Air, Tewp
Mast.
96
97
94
92
94
96
92
80
89
89
87

75
68
68
72
72
74
83
74
66
66
70
70
73
79
62
68

70

Min.
46
48
54
68
52
57
59
58
53
51
54
44
46
54
43
50
38
41
43
52
43
33
43
36
34
44
56
43
35
36

3
Avg
71
73
74
80
73
76
76
69
71
70
71
69
60
61
55
61
54
57
57
63
54
49
57
53
53
61
59
55
51
53


-------
                                                  Appendix-8
                   STATION NO.  3


                      Richiand
Water and Air Temperatures in Degrees  of Fahrenheit
       August
September
iqs1} Water Temp.
Date
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Max.
75
74
74
75
76
78
77
77
76
77
77
77
75
74
74
74
75
76
76
76
75
74
73
73
72
71
72
71
72
73
73
Min.
69
68
66
67
68
69
70
69
69
69
70
70
68
68
69
68
67
69
70
70
68
68
67
67
65
65
66
66
66
66
67
Avg.
72
71
70
71
72
74
74
73
73
73
74
74
72
71
72
71
71
73
73
73
72
71
70
70
69
68
69
69
69
70
70
Air Temp.
Max.
95
91
87
88
94
100
104
100
91
94
100
101
90
90

95
92
96
99
95
88
92
94
91
87
81
89
92
89
98
102
Min.
67
54
52
54
56
61
64
59
57
60
62
55
57
54
57
58
56
60
67
59
55
56
55
54
55
49
51
61
54
57
57
Avg,
81
73
70
71
75
81
84
80
74
77
81
78
74
72
76
77
74
78
83
77
72
74 .
" 75
73
71
65
70
77
73
78
80
Water Temp.
Max.
74
74
75
73
74
72
72
70
71
70
69
66
65
60
63
63
64
64
64
63
61
62
61
62
61
60
60
60
61


Min.
66
68
69
68
68
69
68
65
66
66
64
65
61
58
59
59
59
60
60
61
57
58
58
57
57
59
58
57
57


Avg.,
70
71
72
71
71
71
70
68
69
68
67
66
63
59
61
61
62
62
62
63
59
60
60
60
59
60
59
59
59


Air Temp.
Max.
§8
99
101
101
99
101
101
96
84
91
95
90
83

78
69
73
74
79
85
75
71
73
76
75
76
81
68
68
69

Min.
S3
S5
61
65
60
62
64
60
55
54
56
48
50
56
50
51
44
48
46
56
48
37
48
40
40
45
57
48
42
40

Avft,
76
77
81
83
80
82
83
78
70
73
76
69
67
67
64
60
59
61
63
71
62
54
61
58
58
61
69
58
55
55


-------
                                                                                              	A
Proposed
Bumping
Enlargement
                                                                                                                                                      VICINITY MAP
                                                                                                                                                         SCALE IN MILES
                                                                                                                                                        50^25 0  30 I00  ,50
                                                                                                                                            WM  Irrigated Area
                                                                                                                                                  Major Diversions
                                                                                                                                                  Major Drains
                                                                                                                                                YAKIMA RIVER BASIN
                                                                                                                                               GENERAL   MAP
                                                                                                                                       !U.S.DEPARTMENTOFHEALfH,EDUCATION,a WELFARE^

                                                                                                                                               PUBLIC  HEALTH SERVICE

                                                                                                                                           RE6ION IX            PORTLAND,OREGON
                                                                                                                                                                        FIGURE

-------