Nearly $332K in DEQ grants will benefit 9 state water systems

Nine drinking water and wastewater systems across the state will be able to evaluate deficiencies in their systems and work toward fixes and upgrades thanks to nearly $332,000 in grants.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality recently awarded $331,741 to the systems through Gov. Brad Little’s Leading Idaho plan.

Awardees are the cities of Buhl, Filer, Franklin, Iona and Spirit Lake, along with the King Hill Domestic Water and Sewer Association, the Meadow Creek Property Owners Association and the Woodland Shores Water and Sewer Association.

“Families, farmers, ranchers and all Idaho residents rely on clean, efficient water and wastewater systems,” Little said in a statement. “These systems are not only a crucial part of our way of life, but our economy as well.”

The governor went on to say that funding from the Leading Idaho plan aims to ensure residents of the state can rely on water infrastructure “for generations to come.”

Grants made under the plan are used to help municipalities and systems “develop engineering reports to identify the most cost-effective, environmentally sound method of upgrading a system to achieve and maintain compliance with state and federal standards.” The grants cover up to 50% of eligible planning costs.

According to the DEQ, the cities and associations were awarded the following amounts for various reasons pertaining to drinking and wastewater systems:

• Buhl in Twin Falls County was awarded $83,000 to prepare a drinking water planning study and environmental review to evaluate the current drinking water system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $166,000, and the remaining $83,000 will be funded by the city.
• Filer in Twin Falls County was awarded $58,365 to prepare a wastewater planning study and environmental review to evaluate the current wastewater system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $116,730, and the remaining $58,365 will be funded by the city.
• Franklin in Franklin County was awarded $30,000 to prepare a wastewater planning study and environmental review to evaluate the current wastewater system and identify needed improvements. The total project is $60,000 and the remaining $30,000 will be funded by the city.
• Iona in Bonneville County was awarded $30,000 to prepare a drinking water planning study and environmental review to evaluate the current drinking water system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $60,000, and the remaining $30,000 will be funded by the city.
• King Hill Domestic Water and Sewer Association in Elmore County was awarded $22,776 to prepare a drinking water planning study and environmental review to evaluate the current drinking water system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $45,552, and the remaining $22,776 will be funded by King Hill Domestic Water and Sewer Association.
• Meadow Creek Property Owners Association in Adams County was awarded $30,000 to prepare a drinking water planning study and environmental review to evaluate the current drinking water system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $60,000, and the remaining $30,000 will be funded by Meadow Creek Property Owners Association.
• Spirit Lake in Kootenai County was awarded $37,500 to prepare a wastewater planning study and environmental review to evaluate the current wastewater system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $75,000, and the remaining $37,500 will be funded by the city.
• Trow Creek Water Association in Boundary County was awarded $17,500 to prepare a drinking water planning study and environmental review to evaluate the current drinking water system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $35,000, and the remaining $17,500 will be funded by Trow Creek Water Association.
• Woodland Shores Water and Sewer Association in Kootenai County was awarded $22,600 to prepare a drinking water planning study and environmental review to evaluate the current drinking water system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $45,200, and the remaining $22,600 will be funded by Woodland Shores Water and Sewer Association.