Reconnaissance of the chemical quality of surface waters of the Sabine River Basin, Texas and Louisiana

The Sabine River basin has an abundant supply .of surface water of excellent quality. The basin area of 9,700 square miles receives an average of about 48 inches of rainfall per year, of which about 13 inches flows to the Gulf of Mexico.

Variations in the chemical quality of the surface waters in the Sabine River basin are caused principally by areal differences in geology and runoff; but industrial influences, particularly the disposal of oil-field brines, affect the quality in limited areas. Water having the least dissolved solids is found in the lower part of the basin, where rainfall is greatest. Water having higher values of hardness are found in the area of Cretaceous limestone, chalk, and marl in the northwestern part of the basin. Chloride concentrations are generally low except where streams are polluted by oil-field brines and localized natural saline inflow.

Existing reservoirs in the basin contain water of excellent quality, and water to be stored in proposed reservoirs should be excellent.