Preliminary data indicated the drainage water would be 

 relatively high in nitrogen. The then Federal Water Quality 

 Administration conducted a study to determine the effect of 

 discharging such drainage water on the quality of water in 

 the San Francisco Bay and Delta. Upon completion of this 

 study in 196? , the Administration's report concluded that 

 the nitrogen content of untreated drainage waters could have 

 significant adverse effects upon the fish and recreation 

 values of the receiving waters. The report recommended a 

 three-year research program to establish the economic feasi- 

 bility of nitrate-nitrogen removal. 



As a consequence, the three agencies formed the Interagency 

 Agricultural Wastewater Study Group and developed a three- 

 year cooperative research program which assigned specific 

 areas of responsibility to each of the agencies. The scope 

 of the investigation Included an Inventory of nitrogen 

 conditions in the potential drainage areas, possible control 

 of nitrates at the source, prediction of drainage quality, 

 changes in nitrogen in transit, and methods of nitrogen 

 removal from drain waters including biological -chemical 

 processes and desalination. 



VI 



