The Oil Shale Industry's Water Problems

Abstract

An oil shale industry producing 2 million bpd of oil can be expected to require each year the diversion of about 750,000 acre-ft for direct use, plus use by the population and affiliated industries which oil shale development will add to the economy of the upper Colorado River basin. Of this, about 500,000 acre-ft would be consumed, and about 250,000 acre-ft returned to the river. The total lawfully usable water supply in the upper basin is a good deal less than the total visible supply. This is due to interstate commitments to down-stream users. The effect, particularly in Colorado, is that there is not enough uncommitted water available for use in the state of origin to supply the anticipated water requirements of the oil shale industry. These requirements must be met in large part by purchasing existing water rights and perhaps reducing the state's agricultural economy in some degree as a partial offset to benefits to be derived from the new industry. The ultimate remedy, which may well occur, is importation of several million acre-feet annually, into the Colorado River basin from other watersheds.