Table 3.66. Comparison of constituents of brine water 

 from some southwestern Louisiana oil 

 fields vWth constituents found in sea water 

 (Collins 1970). 



an area of 730 ha (1804 a). Under stagnant conditions 

 the area involved would be 1,215 ha (3002 a). 



Disposal of smaller amounts of brine into inland 

 water bodies would have more serious consequences 

 because of the shallow depths and surrounding wet- 

 lands. There is indication that brine discharge has 

 been a contributing factor in the rapid marsh degrada- 

 tion north and west of the Hackberry salt dome in 

 Calcasieu Basin. 



The uncontrolled dilution and disposal of brines 

 into streams and surface waters has been permitted in 

 some areas during periods of high stream flow or sur- 

 face water runoff. There is a danger of creating unde- 

 sirable concentrations of dissolved salt during periods 

 of low flow. Concentrations that are dangerous to 

 aquatic flora and fauna and can also cause water to be 

 unfit for irrigation or other human use during the pe- 

 riods of greatest need (Louisiana Geological Survey 

 1960). Additional information on the effects of brines 

 may be found in Chipman (1959), Simmons (1957), 

 Renfro (I960), Bernstein (1967), Gunter (1967b), 

 Waisel (1972), Mosely and Copeland (1974). 



Industrial toxins. Waters in several areas of the 

 Chenier Plain have been subjected to significant toxin 

 loads. The toxins can take many fomis, but in general 

 (in addition to brines), they include heavy metals, 

 organic toxins (pesticides, etc.), oxidizable organic 

 compounds that reduce available oxygen, thermal ef- 

 fluents, and bacterial contaminants. There is qualita- 

 tive summary information on the severity of the water 

 quality problems in each Chenier Plain basin (table 

 3.67). 



Industrial pollution in the Chenier Plain occurs in 

 the Sabine Lake and Sabine River, the Calcasieu River 

 and its tributaries, the lower reaches of the Vermilion 

 River, and in some stretches of the GIWW. Most of 

 the pollution is localized. The enormous amounts of 



organic materials, indicated by the total biological 

 and chemical oxygen demand load, must be considered 

 against a background of a naturally high level of 

 organics and sediments in the region. This load de- 

 pletes dissolved oxygen locally to create anoxic con- 

 ditions; such conditions, however, can also occur na- 

 turally in waterways. 



Most of the discharged organic toxins are alipha- 

 tic hydrocarbons that are discharged in fairly large 

 amounts in both the Sabine and Calcasieu basins. In 

 addition, at least one industry in the Calcasieu Basin 

 discharges chlorinated hydrocarbons that are ex- 

 tremely toxic to aquatic organisms and are readily de- 

 graded. Thennal pollution is widespread in both the 

 Sabine and Calcasieu industrial areas. Local effects 

 must be fairly severe since temperatures over40°C 

 have been recorded in receiving streams (Environmen- 

 tal Protection Agency 1972), but no studies have 

 been made of the consequences in the Chenier Plain. 



The Calcasieu River is contaminated with heavy 

 metals. In the late 1960's, high concentrations of 

 mercury were found in many fishes and shellfishes 

 from the area. The major source of the mercury was 

 apparently one industry (Pittsburgh Plate Glass, Inc.) 

 in the Lake Charles area. In 1971, the plant installed 

 treatment facilities that reduced the discharge to 

 about 0.25 kg/day (0.55 lb/day). Since that time, 

 rather high concentrations of mercury have still been 

 found in fishes, but a 1972 investigation failed to 

 turn up any significant mercury sources (Environmen- 

 tal Protection Agency 1972). Chromium is a highly 

 toxic contaminant released in large amounts in the 

 petroleum refining process (309 kg/day, 681 lb/day 

 in the Calcasieu Basin). Lead is released (primarily by 

 one industry) at over 4,000 kg/day (8,818 lb/day). 



Analyses of water samples taken any distance 

 downstream from discharge sources generally fail to 

 show elevated concentrations of these heavy metals 



94 



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