Causes of basement flooding along 11800 South near 3800 West, South Jordan and Riverton, Salt Lake County (RI-195)

By: G. E. Christenson

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the source of shallow ground water which is flooding basements in three homes along 11800 South between 3600 and 4000 West in South Jordan and Riverton. These homes were flooded for the first time in summer 1984, and one potential source is leakage from new evaporation ponds constructed by Kennecott's Utah Copper Division about 4000 feet upslope to the west. An evaluation of this and other possibilities, as well as recommendations for remedies and/or further study, are included in this study.

The scope of work included a literature review, air photo interpretation, analysis of well logs from the Utah Division of Water Rights, and study of Kennecott well log and water quality/level data, including review of a report for Kennecott by Intera Technologies, Inc. addressing the basement flooding. Recent water-level and canal seepage loss data from the U.S . Geological Survey (USGS) were also reviewed. Field visits to the area were made on September 12, November 6, and December 4, 1984, to study surface-water conditions. A field inspection of the Kennecott ponds was performed with S. D. Taylor, environmental engineer for Kennecott, on November 6, 1984. Local residents were contacted on December 4, 1984, to obtain information on the flooding problem.

Other Information:
Published: 1985
Pages: 29 p.
Location: Salt Lake County
Media Type: Paper Publication