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     ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
          OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT
           REMOTE SENSING STUDY

           LAS VEGAS WASH BASIN
            LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
National Field Investigations Center-Denver
             Denver, Colorado

                Region IX
        San Francisco, California

               August 1972

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                        TABLE OF CONTENTS


Chapter                       Title                               Page

    I       INTRODUCTION	      1

   II       SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 	      2

  III       RECOMMENDATIONS	      3

   IV       MISSION PURPOSE 	      5

    V       BACKGROUND/HISTORICAL INFORMATION 	      5

   VI       RELATED INFORMATION 	      6

  VII       CHRONOLOGICAL DATA	     10

 VIII       AIRCRAFT SENSOR DATA	     12

   IX       DESCRIPTION OF DATA REDUCTIONS	     15

                 Basic Management, Incorporated (BMI)
                    Holding Ponds 	     15
                    BMI Upper Ponds	     18
                    BMI Lower Ponds	     20
                 Municipal/Industrial Waste Sources
                    Other Than BMI	     22
                 Las Vegas Wash Channel Data	     27

            REFERENCES	     29

            LIST OF TABLES	     ii

            LIST OF FIGURES	    iii

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                          LIST OF TABLES
Number and Title                                                        Page

VI-1 - SUMMARY OF NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND DISSOLVED SOLIDS
            LOADS DISCHARGED TO LAS VEGAS WASH BY MUNICIPAL
            AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE SOURCES	    11

IX-1 - SUMMARY OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE SOURCES DISCHARGING TO
            BMI	    16

IX-2 - SUMMARY OF MUNICIPAL WASTE SOURCES DISCHARGING TO
            BMI	    17

IX-3 - SUMMARY OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE SOURCES DISCHARGING TO LAS
            VEGAS WASH	    23

IX-4 - SUMMARY OF MUNICIPAL WASTE SOURCES DISCHARGING TO LAS
            VEGAS WASH	    24
                                ii

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                          LIST OF FIGURES


                                                                Following
Number                         Title                              Page

  1       LOCATION MAP	        1

  2       BASIC MANAGEMENT, INC., HOLDING PONDS 	       15

  3       FOLIAGE GROWTH NEAR BMI UPPER PONDS	       18

  4       PHOTOGRAPH	       18

  5       PHOTOGRAPH	'	       18

  6       PHOTOGRAPH	       18

  7       PHOTOGRAPH	       18

  8       SCHEMATIC GROUND-WATER FLOW DIAGRAM - BMI
             HOLDING PONDS	       18

  9       GROUND-WATER RESURFACING LOCATIONS FROM
             BMI UPPER PONDS. .  .	       19

 10       PHOTOGRAPH AND OVERLAY	       22

 11       PHOTOGRAPH AND OVERLAY	       27

 12       PHOTOGRAPH AND OVERLAY	       27

 13       PHOTOGRAPH AND OVERLAY	       27

 14       PHOTOGRAPH AND OVERLAY	       27

 15       PHOTOGRAPH AND OVERLAY	       27

 16       PHOTOGRAPH AND OVERLAY	       27

 17       PHOTOGRAPH AND OVERLAY	       27
                                iii

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                             - 1 -






                     REMOTE SENSING STUDY




                     LAS VEGAS WASH BASIN




                      LAS VEGAS. NEVADA




                        February 1972






I.   INTRODUCTION




         An aerial remote sensing program, requested by EPA, Region IX,




    was completed in late January 1972 over the Las Vegas Wash Basin.




    The boundaries of the area studied are McCarran Airport on the west,




    Henderson, Nevada, on the south, Lake Mead on the east, and the




    Rainbow Gardens area on the north.  This is shown in Figure 1.

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                              - 2 -
II.  SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

          The ground-water seepage from the BMI Upper and Lower Ponds has

     been established.  The ground-water behavior patterns in the BMI

     pond area, as postulated by the Desert Research Institute (DRI),

     University of Nevada, Las Vegas, have been confirmed.

          The actual discharge locations for the following facilities

     have been pinpointed and weighed as to overall impact upon water

     flowing in the Las Vegas Wash:

          i)  Las Vegas STP
         ii)  Clark County SD STP
        iii)  Nevada Power Company - Sunrise Station
         iv)  Nevada Power Company - Clark Station
          v)  Nevada Rock and Sand Company
         vi)  BMI Industrial Complex
        vii)  Stewart Bros. Gravel Pit
       viii)  Manganese Plant Tailings

     It can be concluded that, as long as the Henderson STP continues to

     discharge into the BMI Lower Ponds, seepage, carrying away the

     deposited metals, minerals, nutrients, etc., will continue from

     the ponds to the Wash indefinitely due to the recharge of the near

     surface aquifer.

          The BMI Upper Ponds will continue to seep wastes to the Las

     Vegas Wash as long as waste water is present in them or until they

     are lined so as to prevent the seepage.

          The Stewart Bros. Gravel Pit acts as a ground-water drain for seep-

     age from the BMI Upper Ponds, in addition to other ground-water sources.

          The abandoned manganese mine tailings piles, located east of

     the BMI Upper Ponds, have been leaching into the Las Vegas Wash for

     an extended period of time.

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                              - 3 -






III.   RECOMMENDATIONS




           It is recommended that the Las  Vegas  Wash be  surveyed  from




      the air a minimum of once each 6 months  in order to  document  the




      behavior of the BMI Ponds and the other  municipal/industrial  waste




      discharges.




           It is recommended herein that the recommendations  of Section




      III of the report entitled Pollution Affecting Las Vegas Wash,




      Lake Mead, ond the Lower Colorado River, Nevada-Arizona-California,




      dated December 1971, Environmental Protection Agency, Office  of




      Enforcement, Division of Field Investigations, Denver Center, be




      implemented at an early date.   A brief outline of  these recom-




      mendations is as follows:




           (1)   Municipal, sanitary,  and industrial wastewaters be




                collected, treated,  and discharged through a  regional




                waste management system.




           (2)   Industrial process wastewaters,  boiler blowdown water,




                cooling system blowdown water, and other highly mineral-




                ized wastes be segregated  from cooling water  and  evap-




                orated in impermeable ponds with no discharge.




           (3)   Once-through cooling  water systems either be  connected




                to recirculating systems,  or the cooling water be dis-




                charged to surface water following treatment  as required.




           (4)   Groundwater in the near-surface  aquifer, lying under and




                down-gradient  from  the  BMI Ponds, be recovered by BMI




                through installation  and operation of a  pumping system




                with  pumpage to be disposed through evaporation in im-




                permeable  ponds or by other adequate means.

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                        - 4 -






     (5)  Reports on progress in implementing recommended pollu-




          tion abatement measures be submitted to the State of




          Nevada and EPA.




Additionally, it is recommended that Remote Sensing, which can be




effectively used to monitor the behavior of the near-surface




aquifer in the vicinity of the BMI Ponds as well as throughout




the Las Vegas Valley, be utilized to monitor the progress of the




abatement plan instituted.

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                             - 5 -
IV.   MISSION PURPOSE




          The aerial reconnaissance program was  designed to fulfill




     the following objectives:




          (a)  Establish the presence of and discharge patterns  for




               the pollutant seepage from the Basic Management,  In-




               corporated, (BMI)  holding ponds into the Wash.




          (b)  Establish the presence of industrial/municipal  wastes




               entering the Wash  in addition to  the BMI discharges.




          (c)  Locate and document all locations where groundwater




               (sub-surface)  is surfacing within a close proximity




               to the Wash.




          (d)  Locate and document the actual channel (water flow)




               path through the Wash from approximately the Duck




               Creek influent to  Las Vegas Bay (western section  of




               lower Lake Mead).




 V.   BACKGROUND/HISTORICAL INFORMATION




          Concern over the deterioration of the  water quality  throughout




     the Las Vegas Wash Basin led to formal studies and investigations




     as far back as 1961 and extended through 1968.  The focal point  of




     these studies was the behavior of the Basic Management, Incorporated,




     (BMI) holding ponds.  In 1961, a study concluded that groundwater




     return flows, originating in the holding ponds, caused water quality




     degradation in the Wash.'-  '




          In May 1966, the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration




     carried out a water quality  survey of the Las Vegas Wash  and the

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                             - 6 -





     Las Vegas Bay area of Lake Mead.   The effort did not yield proof



     that wastewater from the BMI ponds was seeping into the Las Vegas



     Wash.



          An investigation, carried out in July 1968, offered only



     probabilities for the source of mineral wastes found in the Wash



     water.



          A study made in December 1968 was successful in isolating



     and defining the overall water quality control problem within the



     Las Vegas Wash.  However, this effort did not establish the



     presence/behavior patterns of the leakage or seepage from the



     BMI Ponds.



          An extensive effort, carried out for EPA by the Desert Re-



     search Institute, University of Nevada, was initiated in 1970



     in order to define the affects of the BMI Ponds upon the hydro-



     geologic characteristics and water quality of the lower Las Vegas



     Wash.  An interim progress report was released in November 1971.


                        F21
VI.  RELATED INFORMATION1 J



          Las Vegas Wash, an intrastate tributary of the Colorado River,



     drains Las Vegas Valley and the Las Vegas, Nevada, metropolitan



     area.  The Wash is an intermittent stream except for the lower 11



     miles reaching from the metropolitan area to Lake Mead.   A majority



     of the perennial streamflow in this reach consists of municipal



     and industrial waste discharges.   Water quality in the Wash is



     characterized by high dissolved solids concentrations and excessive



     levels of nitrogen and phosphorus which stimulate algal growths.

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                        - 7 -






     Las Vegas Bay is an arm of the Boulder Basin area of Lake




Mead.  Las Vegas Wash enters the Bay at its western extremity as




shown in Figure 1.  The Bay is heavily utilized for water-based




recreation including water contact sports.  The nutrients dis-




charged by the Wash have produced high nitrogen and phosphorus




levels in much of Las Vegas Bay.  Excessive algal growths have




occurred, producing a distinct green color in the Bay, accompanied




by odors and nuisance conditions.  Algal masses 20-25 times greater




than background levels in other areas of Lake Mead have been




measured in the Bay.  These conditions reduce the recreational




value of the Bay and interfere with beneficial water uses.  Studies




have shown that Lake Mead downstream from Las Vegas Bay and the




Colorado River below Hoover Dam have a higher algal growth poten-




tial than Lake Mead upstream from Las Vegas Bay, indicating that




the nutrients discharged by Las Vegas Wash may also be affecting




these waters.




     The City of Las Vegas secondary waste treatment plant is




discharging approximately 21 million gallons per day (mgd) of




treated municipal wastes, through a short outfall ditch, into the




Las Vegas Wash.  This effluent is a major source of dissolved




solids and algal nutrients contributing 52.4, 68.4, and 22.8




percent, respectively, of the known municipal and industrial




discharges of nitrogen, phosphorus, and dissolved solids to the




Wash.  The effluent provides about half of the total flow dis-




charged through the Las Vegas Wash into Lake Mead.

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                        - 8 -






     The Clark County Sanitation District discharges about 10 mgd




 of  treated municipal effluent from its secondary waste treatment




 plant  through a mile-long outfall ditch into Las Vegas Wash.  This




 effluent is  also a major source of dissolved solids and algal




 nutrients, contributing 29.0, 31.4, and 15.0 percent, respectively,




 of  the nitrogen, phosphorus and dissolved solids known to be




 entering the Wash from municipal and industrial sources.  The




 effluent contributes about one-fourth of the average flow in the




 Wash.




     The Nevada Power Company discharges cooling tower blowdown




 water, averaging about 0.9 mgd from two steam electric generating




 stations, into the Las Vegas Wash.  These discharges are sources




 of  dissolved solids and nitrogen.  Clark Station discharges about




 0.7 mgd to Duck Creek about three miles above its confluence with




 the Wash.  Nitrogen and dissolved solids loads discharged are




 about  1.2 and 4.1 percent, respectively, of known municipal and




 industrial discharges of these substances.  Sunrise Station dis-




 charges about 0.2 mgd of blowdown water directly to Las Vegas Wash.




 This effluent contains about 0.5 and 1.1 percent, respectively,




 of  known nitrogen and dissolved solids discharges.  The former




 receives its cooling water from the Clark County Sanitation District




 and the latter from the City of Las Vegas STP.




     Nevada  Rock and Sand Company discharges about 0.5 mgd of




wastewater from an asphalt hot mix plant to a small tributary of




Las Vegas Wash.   This waste discharge contributes about 0.4 and 0.2




percent, respectively,  of nitrogen and dissolved solids loads dis-




charged to Las Vegas Wash by known municipal and industrial sources.

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                        - 9 -






     BMI operates a waste disposal system that includes a secondary




type domestic sewage treatment plant and a large complex of waste




disposal ponds covering an area of more than 1,300 acres.   About




250 acres of the ponds are presently in use.  The ponds receive




approximately 2 mgd of Inadequately treated domestic wastes from




the City of Henderson municipal plant and the BMI sewage treatment




plant.  The ponds also receive approximately 9 mgd of untreated




industrial wastes.  Sources of industrial waste include Kerr-McGee




Chemical Corporation; Jones Chemical Company, Incorporated;




Montrose Chemical Corporation; State Stove and Manufacturing




Company; Stauffer Chemical Company; Titanium Metals Corporation




of America; and U. S. Lime Division - Flintkote Company.  Char-




acteristics of the industrial wastes, being discharged to the BMI




Ponds, are highly variable, ranging from relatively uncontaminated




cooling water to highly deleterious wastes.  Dissolved solids




concentrations as high as 200,000 mg/1, a pH range from 2 to 13,




and nitrate concentrations as high as 300 mg/1 have been observed




in the combined waste stream.  Since the disposal ponds are unlined,




these wastes percolate into the near-surface aquifer underlying



                                                          F21
the ponds and enter Las Vegas Wash as groundwater seepage.  J




This seepage presently averages more than 5 mgd and is a major




source of dissolved solids and nitrates.  Although the seepage




contributes only 13 percent of the total flow in the Wash, it




contributes 16.4 and 56.8 percent, respectively, of the nitrogen




and dissolved solids loads discharged to the Wash by municipal and




industrial sources.

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                             - 10 -






           Long-term seepage of industrial wastes from the BMI waste




      disposal ponds and from waste ponds and conveyance channels in




      the BMI industrial complex area has resulted in the development




      of an artificially elevated groundwater mound in the near-surface




      aquifer.  This groundwater is highly contaminated with industrial




      wastes.  Dissolved solids concentrations exceeding 20,000 mg/1




      and nitrate concentrations exceeding 150 mg/1 have been measured.




      The highly contamined groundwater enters the Las Vegas Wash in




      the form of seepage.  Owing to the presence of the groundwater




      mound and the natural gradient of the water table, contaminated




      groundwater seepage would continue for several years even after




      all artifical recharge of the near-surface aquifer was stopped.




      This seepage could be prevented and residual industrial wastes




      in the groundwater system recovered by the operation of a shallow




      well system along Las Vegas Wash to intercept aquifer outflow.




      Disposal of recovered wastes by evaporation in impermeable impound-




      ments would be required to prevent return waste flow to the




      Colorado River system.  Elimination of the seepage would substan-




      tially reduce the dissolved solids and nitrates loads discharged




      through the Las Vegas Wash into Lake Mead.   Table VI-1 summarizes




      the waste loads being discharged into the Las Vegas Wash.




VII.  CHRONOLOGICAL DATA




           The chronological details of the flight program are given as




      follows:




           (a)   27 October 1971 - Time over target of 1030-1200  hours




                PST in  which the Basin was covered photographically by

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                                                                   TABLE VI-I

                                           SUMMARY OF NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND DISSOLVED SOLIDS LOADS
                                      DISCHARGED TO LAS VEGAS WASH BY MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE SOURCES
Source
City of Las Vegas
Sewage Treatment Plant
Clark County SD
Sewage Treatment Plant
Nevada Rock and Sand Company
Nevada Power Company
Clark Generating Station
Nevada Power Company
Sunrise Generating Station
Basic Management, Inc.
Waste Disposal Pond Seepage

mqd
21
10
0.5
0.7
0.2
5
Flow
Percent
56.2
26.7
1.3
1.9
0.5
13.4
Ni trogen
Ib/day as N
3,530
1,950
30
80
37
1,100
Load
Percent
52.4
29.0
0.4
1.2
0.5
16.4
Phosphorus
Ib/day as P
1,940
890
-
2
5
-
Load
Percent
68.4
31.4
-
0.1
0.1
-
Total Dissolved
Ib/day
120,000
79,000
1,000
21 ,000
6,000
300,000
Solids Load
Percent
22.8
15.0
0.2
4.1
1.1
56.8
Total
37.4
100.0
6,727
100.0
2,837
                                                                                                              100.0
527,700
                                                                                                                                            100.0

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                              - 12 -






                 three 70mm framing cameras.   There was no Infrared




                 Line Scanner on board the aircraft for this mission.




                 Flight Altitude - 4,000 feet MSL.




            (b)  2 December 1971 - Time over target of 1330-1415 hours




                 PST.  The Las Vegas Wash was covered by the Infrared




                 Line Scanner.  No photographic coverage was obtained.




            (c)  13 January 1972 - Time over target of 1400-1440 hours




                 PST in which the Basin was covered by the Infrared




                 Line Scanner.  No photographic coverage was obtained.




                 Flight Altitude - 6,000 feet MSL.




            (d)  19 January 1972 - Time over target of 1000-1400 hours




                 PST in which the total flight regime was covered.




                 Flight Altitude - 4,500 feet MSL (above mean sea level,




                 barometric) for the photographic work, and 2,000 to




                 2,300 feet MSL for Infrared Line Scanner* data recording.




VIII.  AIRCRAFT SENSOR DATA




            The reconnaissance data were recorded aboard an RF-4B high




       performance aircraft, with the exception of the 27 October 1971




       flight.  This aircraft contained three framing cameras and an




       Infrared Line Scanner (IRLS).  All cameras were mounted in the




       tri-vertical array, i.e., mounted in their respective vertical




       positions coincident with the nadir of the aircraft.  Each of




       the cameras was uploaded with different film/optical filter com-




       binations.   They were capable of recording the presence of optical




       energy within the following bands of the optical spectrum:
* This equipment is explained in the Aircraft Sensor Data Section.

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                       - 13 -






     (a)  Near ultraviolet, resulting in a 4.5" x 4.5" negative-




          Kodak 2403 recording film with a Wratten 47A gelatin




          optical filter.  This film/filter combination has an




          effective bandwidth of 0.2 microns from 0.34 to 0.54




          microns (ultraviolet to deep blue).




     (b)  Visible region of the optical spectrum, resulting in




          a true color 4.5" x 4.5" positive aerographic ektra-




          chrome transparency - Kodak SO-397 aerographic ektra-




          chrome film with a Wratten HF-3/HF-5 optical filter




          combination.  The film/filter combination has an




          effective bandwidth of 0.3 microns from 0.4 to 0.7




          microns (blue to red).




     (c)  Near infrared region of the optical spectrum which




          was overlapped with a portion of the visible spectrum




          (red, orange), resulting in an aerographic ektrachome




          4.5" x 4.5" false color (rendition)  transparency -




          Kodak 2443 aerographic film with a Wratten 16 gelatin




          optical filter.  The film/filter combination has an




          effective bandwidth of 0.38 microns from 0.52 microns




          to 0.90 microns (orange to near infrared).




     This viewing angle of each camera was 41° about the aircraft's




nadir as shown below.

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                        - 14 -
                                            AIRCRAFT
                                             ALTITUDE
                  GROUND LEVEL
      The IRLS is a cryogenic  device (optical and electronic)

 capable of detecting passive  electromagnetic energy resulting

 from target thermal emissions in the infrared band from 8 to  14

 microns (1 micron equals 10~() meters).  It has a cross-track

 scan angle of 120°  about the  aircraft's nadir, as shown below
AIRCRAFT
ALTITUDE
                        GROUND LEVEL
     The  true color photographic technique  served as a real-world

 color basis for the photo interpretation  of the imagery obtained

 during this mission.

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                            - 15 -






          The ultraviolet/near infrared photographic media and  the




     IRLS provided further refinements in the positive  detection,




     location, and identification of pond seepage,  surfacing of ground




     or sub-surface water, small bodies of water located within the




     Wash Basin, and the actual water channel through the Las Vegas




     Wash from a point near the mouth of Duck Creek to  Las Vegas Bay,




     forming a part of Lake Mead.  The false color  infrared film was




     used for the location and identification of shrouded or masked




     waterways (due to color likeness or foliage cover)  and provided




     detailed information regarding biological growth detection and




     identification.




          The IRLS was the most effective sensor used during these




     missions.




IX.   DESCRIPTION OF DATA REDUCTIONS




          The interpretations of the airborne reconnaissance data are




     presented in the following paragraphs:




     A.   Basic Management, Incorporated (BMI)  Holding Ponds




              There are two groups of holding ponds within the  BMI




         complex commonly named the Upper Ponds and the Lower Ponds.




         They are located in the area between Henderson, Nevada, and




         the Las Vegas Wash on the east side of Highway 95.   The ponds




         are sketched in Figure 2.   There are seven sources of  indus-




         trial waste that discharge into this pond  complex.   The




         identity of the respective companies are given in Tables IX-1




         and IX-2.  The pertinent data regarding these  two groups of




         ponds are discussed separately in the following paragraphs:

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                                    STP IISCNARGE PUNT
IPPEI IMI PONDS
  EARTHEN
  IAIRIERS
                                         LAS VEGAS WASH
                LOWER BMI PONDS
       Figure 2   Basic  Maiagemeit,INC HoNii* Ponds

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                                                                        TABLE  IX-1
                                                             SUMMARY OF  INDUSTRIAL WASTE SOURCES
                                                                    DISCHARGING TO BMI
Industry
Industry Type
Waste
Volume
mqd
Waste Type
Waste
Characteristics
Treatment
Disposal
Rema rks
Basic Management,
Inc.
1.53    Sanitary
                                                  8.92    Mixed  Industrial
                                                          Cooling  &  Process
                                                          wastes.
Normal  Sewage
                            pH range 2-13
                            High TDS and N03
Secondary
(High rate
 Trickling Filter)

None
BMI Upper Ponds
                                       BMI  Upper Ponds
Jones Chemical Co.
Kerr-McGee Chemical
Corp.
State Stove and
Manufacturing Co.
Stauffer Chemical
Co. (Inc1.
Montrose Chemical
Corp. )
Titanium Metals
Corp. of America
U. S. Lime Division
Flintkote Co.
Industrial
Chemicals
(SIC 281)
Industrial
Inorganic Chemicals
(SIC 2819)
Manufacture
Water Heaters
(SIC 3639)
Industrial Inorganic
& Organic Chemicals
(SIC 281, 2879)
Produce Titanium
Ingots
(SIC 3356)
Hydrated Lime
(SIC 2819)
< 0.001
0.03
0.30
0.35
< 0.001
0.34
3.50
0.70
0.16
3.59
0.40
0.06
Process
Sanitary
Cooling & Boiler
Slowdown
Process
Cooling & Process
Sanitary
Cooling & Boiler
Process
Sanitary
Cooling
Process
Cooling &
Dust Control
Unknown
Normal Sewage
Normal Sewage
High TDS
High TDS
Normal Sewage
High pH & TDS
Normal Sewage
Low pH, High N03
High Solids
None
BMI STP
None
None
None
BMI STP
None
None
BMI STP
None
None
None
BMI Upper Ponds
BMI Upper Ponds
BMI Upper Ponds
BMI Upper Ponds
BMI Upper Ponds
BMI Upper Ponds,.
BMI Upper Ponds-'
BMI Upper Ponds^/
BMI Upper Ponds
BMI Upper Ponds
BMI Upper Ponds
BMI Upper Ponds
Includes 1.0 mgd
municipal wastes
from Henderson.

Seepage from ponds
enters Las Vegas
Wash.

Evaporation system
to be completed in
1972.
                                                                                                                                        Batch dump 35,000
                                                                                                                                        gallons per month.
                                                                                                                                         Recycling or  evapo-
                                                                                                                                         ration  under study.
]_/ Basic Management, Inc. operates a sewage treatment plant and waste  disposal  ponds for sanitary and  industrial wastes from Jones Chemical Co.,  Kerr-McGee
   Chemical Corp., Montrose Chemical Corp., State Stove and Manufacturing Co.,  Stauffer Chemical Co.,  Titanium Metals Corp. of America, and U.  S.  Lime
   Division-Flintkote Co.                                                                                                                                —
2/ Prior to January 1971, these wastes were discharged to  the  BMI  lower  ponds.

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            TABLE IX-2

SUMMARY OF MUNICIPAL WASTE SOURCES
        DISCHARGING TO BMI
Source
City of Henderson
Population
Served
18,000
Plant
Influent
mgd
1.0
1.0
Treatment
Processes
Imhoff Tanks
and oxidation ponds
No Treatment
Plant
Effluent
mgd
0.8
1.0
Effluent Disposal
BMI Lower Ponds
BMI Sewage Treatment Plant
Remarks
Pond seepage reaches Las
Vegas Wash
Half of Henderson municipal
                                                                   waste treated by BMI.
                                                                   See Table IX-1.

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                   - 18 -






1.  BMI Upper Ponds




         The thermal and false color infrared imagery indi-




    cated that seepage has occurred from the eastern-most




    half of the Upper Ponds for an extended period of time.




    There were lines of foliage, identified as salt cedar




    (a phreatophyte) from ground truth data, leading from




    the ponds toward the Wash.  The presence of this growth




    in turn establishes the presence of groundwater at a




    shallow depth, containing the nutrients required to sus-




    tain this growth.  The soil in this area does not contain




    sufficient nutrients to sustain this growth with only




    water provided.  The location of the foliage with respect




    to the Upper Ponds is sketched in Figure 3.




         It is significant to note that aerial photographs,




    taken in the early 1940's prior to the use of the ponds,




    show that the phreatophytes were not present.  Considering




    the nature and characteristics of the foliage confirms




    the presence of the shallow groundwater mound discussed




    above.




         The thermal imagery from the 2 December 1971 and the




    13 January 1972 missions indicates the presence of surface




    or near-surface water seepage, from the above mentioned




    section of this complex, over an 80-acre area.  This is




    indicated in Figures 4, 6, and 7.  There was more water




    present in this 80-acre area during the former mission




    [Figures 4 and 5] than during the latter [Figures 6 and 7].

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SIPHON DITCH  FROM
  BMI INDUSTRIAL
    COMPLEX
  BMI STP
                                                LOWER  BMI PONDS
     DRAINAGE
        DITCH
            UPPER BMI PONDS
        D
CROSS-HATCHED AREAS
REPRESENTS FOLIAGE
FALSE  COLOR INFRARED AND IRLS
IMAGERY  INDICATED NEAR
SURFACE  MOISTURE IN
THIS AREA
         Figure   3  Foliage Growth Near BMI  Upper Ponds

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                            h
   OWER HOLDING  PONDS
                                                 •UPPER HOLIING  FINDS'
           ZONE  OF LOCAL I
        REGIONAL GROUND WATER
              DISCHARGE
                       ZONE OF LOCAL
                       GROUND WATER
                         DISCHARGE
              1800	
                 80 ACRE  AREA IF
                                                                        GROUND-WATER SURFACING
1600—1
1500_
1400 —
                                                                                           WASTE  WATER GOES
                                                                                             SIISIRFACE
                                WATER GOES
                                SUBSURFACE
                                                                                       MUDDY  CREEK FORMATION
                                                                                      (SILT, CLAY, V.FIHE SAND)
                                                                     ELEV.
                                                                 L-1800
                                                                                            _170I
                                                                                                                         .1600
                                                                                                                         .1500
                                                                                                                         J400
               I
               3.3 MILES
I
2.6  MILES
1.5 MILES
                          Figire 8. Schematic  Gr«««d-Waler FUw  Diagram-B.M.I.  MoNiig Ponds

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               - 19 -






At the respective times of flight, there was no direct




surface water flow from the Upper Ponds into the Wash.




The thermal and the false-color infrared imagery did




indicate the presence of near-surface moisture in the




soil of the general area reaching from the above men-




tioned seepage area to the Wash as shown in Figures




3, 4, 6, and 7.  This establishes the fact that ground-




water discharge, from the BMI Upper Ponds, moves through




the sub-surface and subsequently surfaces in the above-




mentioned 80-acre area as a result of low vertical




permeability of the soil.  A schematic of the groundwater




flow is given in Figure 8.  The water again enters the




sub-surface medium on the northern edge (edge closest to




the Wash) of the 80-acre area and finally surfaces within




the Wash where it enters the flowing stream between Pabco




Road and the Las Vegas Valley Lateral, as shown in Figure




9.  The imagery does confirm the movement of groundwater




in this localized area, as postulated by the Desert Re-




search Institute.




     In conclusion, any wastewater, being discharged into




the BMI Upper Ponds by the industrial/municipal waste




sources given in Tables IX-1 and IX-2, will seep to the




Las Vegas Wash and subsequently into Lake Mead.  This has




been established by a continuous water path through the




Wash as shown in Figures 5 and 7.

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                                    WATER  INFLUENT FROM GRAVEL PIT
                                                                       GRAVEL  PIT
                                                                       HAULAGE ROAD
                                                                             COLD WATER
                                                                                POND
                                     COLD WATER POND
fATER  POND
                                                              AQUIFER FROM  BMI
                                                              UPPER PONDS
                    Figure 9. Ground  Water Resurfacing  Locations  from  H>l I Upper Ponds

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                   - 20 -






         During the time of ground truth data collection in




    the area from the BMI Upper Ponds to the Wash, nearly




    50 percent of the soil surface, especially in the above




    mentioned 80-acre area, was soaked with oil.   There was




    also a pesticide odor in this area.  Likewise, in the




    area of the siphon ditch, located at the upper end of the




    BMI Upper Ponds as shown in Figure 3, the pesticide




    odor was extremely strong.   Small slicks of oil were




    floating on the water in this ditch enroute to the Upper




    Ponds.  The presence of oil in the soil, mentioned above,




    can be easily explained with the use of the Ground Water




    Schematic in Figure 8.  The oil, used in the manufacture




    of pesticides according to  information received from DRI,




    was discharged into the Upper Ponds.  It followed the




    sub-surface route shown in  Figure 8 and resurfaced in the




    80-acre area nearly saturating the ambient soils.  Patches




    of oil-laden soil were traced to the Wash, indicating




    that these wastes are entering that stream of water.




2.  BMI Lower Ponds




         Seepage from the BMI Lower Ponds into the Las Vegas




    Wash was present during each mission.  The greatest amount




    of seepage occurred during  the 2 December 1971 mission which




    is represented by Figures 4 and 5.   During this time period,




    industrial wastes were being discharged into the BMI Lower

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                 - 21 -







 Ponds from the BMI industrial  complex through  an  open  ditch.



This  ditch entered the ponds at a point on their western-




most  boundary which would be the far left side of the ponds




shown in Figure 4.  The imagery definitely shows that these




wastes were seeping directly to the Wash immediately upstream




from  Pabco Road.  In addition to the aforementioned wastes,




the Henderson sewage treatment plant was discharging domestic




wastes from two oxidation ponds into the BMI Lower Ponds.




The discharge point is along the western side of the upper




reaches of this section of ponds as shown in Figure 2.  The




domestic waste was also seeping through the domain of the




BMI Lower Ponds into the Las Vegas Wash.




      According to reports received, all industrial waste




discharges into the BMI Lower Ponds ceased as of 1 January




1972.  The imagery, obtained from the 13 January 1972 mission,




shows the western-most sections of the Lower Ponds complex




containing a significantly less amount of surface/near-sur-




face water than was observed during the 2 December 1971 mission.




However, the Henderson sewage treatment plant waste discharge




was nearly identical during these two missions.  In the




latter mission, the seepage from the BMI Lower Ponds into the




Wash was nearly equal to that observed during the former mission.




Likewise, the imagery from the 19 January 1972 mission shows




that  the pond seepage was present and nearly identical in




magnitude to that observed in the above-mentioned previous




missions.  The detailed seepage patterns of the ground-water

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                       - 22 -






        from the BMI Lower Ponds to the Las Vegas Wash, are shown




        in Figure 10 and its associated transparent overlay.   The




        clear areas of the transparency depict the presence of




        surface/near-surface water at the time of flight on 19




        January 1972 while the cross-batched areas depict dry




        areas.




             In conclusion, although the industrial waste discharge



        has been removed from the BMI Lower Ponds, they continue




        to seep into the Wash with the Henderson sewage  treatment




        plant discharge being the only external contributor of




        water.   The actual seepage from the ponds has not ceased




        or decreased significantly.  Finally, as long as the




        Henderson sewage treatment plant continues to discharge




        wastewater into these ponds, the respective near-surface



        aquifer will be continually recharged causing leaching




        of the deposited mineral salts, metals, nutrients, etc.




        from the ponds to the Wash for many years hence.



B.  Municipal/Industrial Waste Sources Other Than BMI




        There were seven major sources of waste being discharged




    into the Las Vegas Wash in addition to the previously discussed




    BMI Industrial Complex.  They are individually discussed in




    the following paragraphs.  Pertinent details regarding flow




    rates, waste characteristics, etc. for each facility are given




    in Tables IX-3 and IX-4.




    1.  The Nevada Rock and Sand Company was discharging waste




        water into a tributary of the Wash as indicated in

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Seepage Patterns for BMI Lower Ponds
                January 1972
           CROSS-HATCHED AREAS
                  WHITE AREAS
DRY AREAS,NO WATER AT TIME OF  FLIGHT
CONTAINED WATER AT TIME OF FLIGHT
*   SEEPAGE AREAS

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FIGURE IO

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                             TABLE IX-3
SUMMARY OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE SOURCES DISCHARGING TO LAS VEGAS
Industry
Nevada Power Company
Clark Generating Station
Nevada Power Company
Sunrise Generating Station
Nevada Rock & Sand Company
Industry
Type
Electric
Powerplant
(SIC 491)
Electric
Powerplant
(SIC 491)
Asphalt Hot
Mix Plant
Waste
Volume Waste
mgd Waste Type Characteristics
0.7 Cooling Tower High TDS, NO,
Slowdown &
Boiler Slowdown
0.2 Cooling Tower High TDS, NO,
Slowdown & J
Boiler Slowdown
0.5 Scrubber High TDS, NO,
Wastewater
Treatment Disposal Remarks
None Las Vegas Wash
None Las Vegas Wash
Settling Pond Las Vegas Wash Water reuse system
with no discharge
planned.

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                            TABLE IX-4



SUMMARY OF MUNICIPAL WASTE SOURCES DISCHARGING TO LAS VEGAS
Source
City of Las Vegas
Clark County
Sanitation District


Plant
Population Influent
Served mgd
190,000 25
90,000 15-16


Treatment
Processes
Secondary
(High rate
Trickling Filter)
Secondary
(High rate
Trickling Filter)


Plant
Effluent
mgd
1.3
2.5
21
2.5
1.5-3.5
1.4
8-10
Effluent Disposal
Cooling water supply for
Sunrise Generating Station
Irrigation
Las Vegas Wash
Bypassed to City of Las Vegas
STP for treatment
Cooling water supply for
Clark Generating Station
Irrigation
Las Vegas Wash
Remarks
Plant also serves
North Las Vegas
Influent includes
bypassed by Clark
Plant also serves
Air Force Base



City of
2.5 mgd
County
Nell is



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                   - 25 -






    Figure 6.   Above or upstream of this point,  there was




    no water flowing in the Wash.  This Company's discharge




    caused one of the first sustained flows in the Wash.




    According to another report,'- ^ this Company's wastewater




    contained significant amounts of suspended solids with




    a flow rate of 0.5 mgd.



2.  The Nevada Power Company - Sunrise Station was discharg-




    ing water into a small canal or ditch as shown in Figure




    6.   This ditch entered the Wash at the same location as




    did the tributary discussed in paragraph 1 above.  This




    particular discharge also contributed to the beginning




    of sustained water flow In the Wash.




3.  The City of Las Vegas sewage treatment plant is located




    across Vegas Valley Drive from the Sunrise Power Station.




    The discharge from this facility flowed through a canal



    to the Las Vegas Wash.  This canal entered the Wash at




    the same location as those from the Sunrise Power Station




    and the Nevada'Rock and Sand Company.  The sewage treatment



    plant had a discharge rate of 21 mgd which was the major




    contributor to the beginning of sustained water flow in




    the Wash.  From this point, the presence of water in the




    Wash was continuous to Las Vegas Bay in Lake Mead.  This




    can be easily seen by the black areas labled the "Las




    Vegas Wash" in Figures 4 through 7.



4.  The Clark County Sanitation District sewage treatment




    plant was discharging wastewater through an open ditch

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                   - 26 -






    directly to the Las Vegas Wash as shown in Figure 6.




    The influent rate from this facility into the Wash was




    given as 10 mgd.




5.  The Nevada Power Company - Clark Station was discharging




    water into Duck Creek from one of three ditches origi-




    nating within that facility.   The position of the Station



    is shown in Figure 5.  The amount of water in the Duck




    Creek Basin significantly increases from the position of




    this facility downstream to the Las Vegas Wash.  The




    flow rate from this complex into the Creek was 0.7 mgd




    as given in Table IX-3.



6.  The Stewart Bros. Gravel Pit discharges large amounts of




    groundwater into the Las Vegas Wash.  Due to the large




    excavations that reach the groundwater levels, this pit



    would act as a major groundwater drain in this area.




    It can be seen in Figure 6 that the gravel pit was acting




    as a drain for groundwater from the BMI Upper Ponds.   This




    water was entering the Wash and surfacing as shown in




    Figure 6.




7.  The tailings piles of the old Manganese Mine (Item 18 of



    Figure 1) have been slowly leaching into the Las Vegas




    Wash, or more precisely, they have been entering the Wash




    by surface sediment transportation along with ambient




    aluvial materials, for an extended period of time.  This




    is shown in Figures 4 and 7.   The tailings and aluvial




    materials have formed a mound-of-sorts in the Wash as




    shown.

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                      - 27 -






C.  Las Vegas Wash Channel Data




         The Desert Research Institute was  awarded an EPA research




    grant to study the ground and surface water behavior in the




    Las Vegas Valley.   The study has revealed that the actual




    water path or channel, through the Las  Vegas Wash, was




    partially,unknown in certain areas due  to the intense foliage



    densities present in the Wash.  The false color infrared and




    IRLS data provided exacting information from which the water




    channel has been located.  The photographic prints of the




    high altitude IKLS data from North Las  Vegas to Las Vegas




    Bay are given in Figures 4 and 5 for the 2 December 1971




    mission and Figures 6 and 7 for the 13  January 1972 mission.



    The black areas within these prints were cooler than the




    lighter or white areas at the time of flight.   It is easily




    seen that the dark areas extend from the Las Vegas sewage




    treatment plant/Sunrise Station facilities continuously down-




    stream to Las Vegas Bay.  This does indicate the presence of



    surface or near surface water continuously between the two




    above-mentioned locations.   The white area in Las Vegas Bay



    (upper left portion of Figure 7) was due to sun reflections




    from the surface of 'the water.




         In order to plot the actual water  path through the Las



    Vegas Wash, low altitude IRLS data were obtained between the




    BMI Lower Ponds and Las Vegas Bay in Lake Mead.   This is the



    most significant portion of the Wash.   These data are presented




    in the form of black and white prints as Figures 10 through 17.

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COLD WATER POND
                        WATER SURFACING
                        FROM NEAR SURFACE
                        AQUIFER  FROM  BM
                        UPPER PONDS

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FIGURE  II

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COLD  WATER  PONDS

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FIGURE 12

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COLD  WATER  PONDS
                                                  RGET AREA
                                               NOT  COVERED

-------
FIGURE 13

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COLD  WATER  POND

-------
FIGURE 14

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COLD WATER PONDS

-------
FIGURE 15

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COLD WATER POND
GROUND WATER SURFACING

-------
FIGURE 16

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LAS   VEGAS   BAY
  (LAKE   MEAD)

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FIGURE 17

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                   - 28 -






     The water path through the Wash is plotted on a series



of transparent overlays and positioned in this report with



their respective IRLS prints.  To properly align the overlays



with respect to the prints, position the crosses in the




upper left and lower right corners of the overlay over those



on that respective print.  [The vertical lines at the edge



of each print designate the amount of overlap with the previous



or the subsequent adjacent print.  The prints can be put to-



gether to form a continuous thermal map of the Wash.]  The



black nonlinear lines on the transparencies indicate the water




path or channel through the Wash.  There is one small area,



0.54 miles long and located 2.25 miles downstream from Fabco



Road and Gravel Fit Haulage Road intersection, that the air-



craft missed while in the low altitude mission on 19 January



1972.  This area was covered in the higher altitude missions



previously discussed.  The continuance of water in the Wash



has been established but the precise water path could not be



plotted for this short distance.  The locations of groundwater



surfacing ponds within the Wash Basin, etc., are indicated on



the respective overlays along with respective sources.



     Finally, any source that would be discharging a liquid



into the Las Vegas Wash will definitely reach Las Vegas Bay



and thus Lake Mead.

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                           - 29  -
                         REFERENCES
1.  Kaufmann, Robert F. ,  Desert Research  Institute, Effects of Basic
    Management, Incorporated.  Effluent Disposal on the Hydrology and
    Water Quality of the  Lower Las  Vegas  Wash Area, Las Vegas, Nevada;
    an interim progress report to the Environmental Protection Agency
    on WQO-EPA Project No.  13030 EOB, "Effect of Water Management on
    Quality of Ground and Surface Recharge Las Vegas Valley," November
    1971.

2.  Pollution Affecting Las Vegas Wash, Lake Mead and the Lower
    Colorado River,  Nevada-Arizona-California, dated December 1971,
    by the Environmental  Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement,
    Division of Field Investigations, Denver Center.

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