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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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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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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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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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(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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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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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.
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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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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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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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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
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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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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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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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(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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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
-------
FIGURE II
-------
COLD WATER PONDS
-------
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
-------
COLD WATER POND
GROUND WATER SURFACING
-------
FIGURE 16
-------
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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