Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Injection Wells topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee adopts updated injection-well rules; new standards aim to enable recycled-water injection under safeguards
Summary
The Senate committee approved updated injection-well rules (docket 3703032301) that reorganize standards, align definitions with state and DEQ rules, and add a framework for potential injection of recycled municipal or industrial water into aquifers under protective standards.
The Idaho Senate Resources and Environment Committee approved revised rules and minimum standards for the construction and use of injection wells (docket 3703032301), a department official said, including a new framework addressing the quality standards for recycled water derived from municipal or industrial wastewater.
Eric Boe, Water Compliance Bureau Chief and Rules Regulation Officer for the Idaho Department of Water Resources, told the committee the rules are intended “to ensure they are constructed and operated in a manner that is both protective of our groundwater resources and public health.” He said the injection-well chapter is necessary to maintain Idaho’s primacy to regulate Class 5 injection wells under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act; the department obtained primacy from EPA in 1985 and has maintained it since.
Boe summarized major changes: reorganization of content across multiple numbered rules to make topics easier to find; removal and clarification of definitions (including endangerment, groundwater quality standards and underground source of drinking water); alignment of industrial and municipal wastewater definitions with Department of Environmental Quality rules; and specific language (rule 5506) establishing standards for the quality of recycled water derived from municipal or industrial wastewater.
Boe said the department published proposed injection-well rules Oct. 2, 2024, held five public meetings over two years with moderate participation, considered oral and written comments, and published pending rules without modifications on Dec. 4, 2024. He said the pending rule reduced the chapter word count by 1,521 words (a 14.5% reduction) and restricted-word count by 10 words (an 8% reduction).
Jason Van Gilder, public works director for the city of Middleton, testified in support and described an innovative municipal approach using subsurface drip tape to land-apply highly treated wastewater to adjacent cropland rather than discharging to the Boise River. Van Gilder said the revised rules would allow municipalities to pursue such approaches without repeated waivers while protecting groundwater.
Roger Batt, representing the Idaho Groundwater Association (the well-drilling industry), also testified in support of the revisions. The association supported changes the department said would allow municipalities to adopt innovative land-application methods while maintaining protections for groundwater.
Senator Harris moved to accept docket 3703032301; a second was recorded. The committee approved the pending injection-well rules by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
