Domestic Water Supply Demineralization at Coalinga

COALINGA, Calif., with a population of approx mately 6,300, is located in a small valle , at an elevation of 671 ft, al ost surrou ded by low, barren hills. The average maximum summer temperature is 103°F. The annual average rainfall is 7 in. ground water table is fed from the Coast Range Mountains, and the water is very hard and unpalatable. The Southern Pacific Railroad came to Coalinga in 1887, long before the incorporation of the city. Soon after the coming of the railroad, drinking water was hauled to Coalinga by rail tank cars. For several years, the water was dumped into an underground cistern and then pumped with a hand pump and sold for 10 cents a bucket. This old cistern, abandoned about 55 years ago, is still visible today. After the abandonment of the cistern, drinking water was hauled by horse and wagon to each home and stored in an 80-gal tank in the front yard. On hot summer days, the water would get