Modelling El Paso county water improvement district no.1
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Abstract
The Paso del Norte Region is a desert area with limited surface and underground water resources. El Paso County Water Improvement District No.1 (EPCWID#1 or District) plans to implement strategies that save water and reduce salinity. A computer model was created using STELLA© based on statistical analysis using EXCEL©. Existing data used in the research was gathered from the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), and EPCWID#1. Regression equations obtained at data collection points on the Rio Grande and within the District controlled the model. Model results compared with actual data yielded good approximation. Three modeling scenarios were run obtaining the annual flow and salt load balances for the EPCWID#1. The results showed a decreasing trend for flow and salt transport. The daily total dissolved solids concentrations (TDS) of three canals inside the EPCWID#1 were obtained for calculating the number of days with unsuitable water quality (TDS>1900 mg/l). The Riverside Canal, which receives treated wastewater discharges, had the highest salinity and the highest number of days with unsuitable water quality.
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