Water quality problems in California

Abstract

This paper discusses a few of the many serious and complex water quality problems confronting water users in California. For ease of presentation and discussion, these water quality problems are broadly grouped under conditions of pollution caused by sewage and industrial waste disposal, and degradation caused by man's development and use of the water itself. Minor quality of water problems resulting from natural causes are also recognized and discussed.

Lyne and McLachlan (1949): Influence of the First Publication on Groundwater Contamination by Trichloroethene

“…Determination of these sites or site has not been possible. The latter paper and occasional early references such as Banks and Lawrence (1953) do make general remarks to the potential for solvents to cause groundwater problems, but it cannot be determined whether such remarks referred to chlorinated solvents or to other miscible solvents (e.g., acetone, methanol) or petroleum distillates, which are discussed elsewhere in the published literature of the 1950s and 1960s.…”

Economic Framework for Salinity Control Projects

“…Therefore, Eq 7 is equivalent to equating marginal costs to marginal benefits. (8) One aspect of the analysis that has been glossed over up to now is the question of the distribution of costs and gains. In the absence of formal institutions there is no economic reason why the benefits to be gained by downstream water users should be reflected in the decisions of upstream dischargers.…”