Groundwater Program

Boise City and the Treasure Valley rely on clean, adequate groundwater supplies for drinking water, agricultural irrigation and high technology uses.  

Boise City has worked to protect and conserve our groundwater resources for more than 20 years. The city was designated a Groundwater Guardian Community as one of eight in a national pilot program in 1994. Boise is the only community in the United States to have been successfully designated a Groundwater Guardian Community for 18 consecutive years! 

Groundwater protection and conservation activities in the city include assessing known and potential contamination, cleaning up contaminated sites, ensuring compliance with federal and state groundwater and hazardous waste regulations, monitoring ground water wells, and providing public education and outreach.  

The city oversees the clean up of groundwater at an old landfill site near the Boise Airport and conducted the closure and continues to monitor a former pole treating site on Airport property.  Boise City has removed more than 60 underground petroleum storage tanks from city facilities.  City staff members ensure that spill prevention plans and practices are in place to protect city property and ground water supplies.  

Groundwater education and outreach is provided through sponsorship and coordination of the Idaho Water Awareness Week each May, annual Water Efficient Landscaping classes, and K-12 classroom presentations through Boise Environmental Education.  Staff members are also available for presentations to adult and youth groups.