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Ground Water Atlas of the United States - Segment 1 California Nevada


Ground-Water Quality

The quality of ground water in Butte Valley is generally suitable for most uses. Dissolved-solids concentrations in the water rarely exceed 500 milligrams per liter. However, owners of a few wells completed in the volcanic rocks report that the water has a sulfur odor, and sodium concentrations exceed 50 milligrams per liter in water from a few wells completed in these rocks. Shallow wells completed in the lake deposits about 4 miles southwest of Dorris produce highly mineralized water that exceeds 500 milligrams per liter dissolved-solids concentrations probably because the water that recharges the aquifer in that area becomes mineralized while percolating through the overlying playa deposits.


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