What We Do
The City of Boise’s Water Renewal Services is the utility that cleans the city’s used water (e.g. water that goes down the drain, toilet etc.) from our homes and businesses – keeping our city clean and safe. We clean 30 million gallons of water every day and put it into the Boise River. It is the largest municipal community asset, worth approximately $2 billion, and consists of:
- Lander Street Water Renewal Facility (built in 1950)
- West Boise Water Renewal Facility (built in 1974)
- Twenty Mile South Farm – using organic matter to grow crops (constructed in 1994)
- Phosphorus Removal Facility – keeping phosphorus out of the Boise River (built in 2015)
- Utility Maintenance
- Over 1000 miles of underground pipe
Recovering Resources
Getting the most out of every drop
With dedicated staff and a track record of thinking big, we recover as many resources from used water as possible before we put it into the Boise River. We clean approximately 10 billion gallons of water each year. From that water, we:
- Recycle organic matter (biosolids) for local crop production
- Harvest phosphorus to make commercial fertilizer
- Capture methane gas to heat our facilities
- Create clean water that goes to the Boise River
Our Innovative Approach to Water Renewal
The WaterShed
For a behind-the-scenes look at our innovative treatment practices and learn what Water Renewal Services does every day, you can schedule a free tour through The WaterShed. Offering free, year-round activities and events for all ages or the whole family, The WaterShed features an outdoor 2-acre River Campus that simulates how water travels through a watershed, an educational center filled with interactive exhibits, and the largest concentration of public art in Idaho.
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