Boise details recycled-water pilot results and designs for new facility; Lander Street and West Boise projects advancing
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Summary
Water Renewal staff reported completion of a recycled-water pilot, quantified sampling and treatment, described design progress on a new recycled-water facility targeted for operation by 2029, and provided updates on capacity-expansion projects at Lander Street and West Boise.
City of Boise water renewal managers told the Public Works Commission on Thursday that the department has wrapped up a recycled-water pilot, advanced designs for a new recycled-water facility and is moving forward with upgrades to several treatment plants.
Ben Niediger, senior operations manager (filling in for Deputy Director Haley Faulkner), said the department completed a recycled-water pilot that included more than 50 public tours, collection of over 40,000 water samples and treatment of more than 5,000,000 gallons of recycled water. "We've wrapped up over 50 tours. We collected over 40,000 water samples and treated over 5,000,000 gallons of water," Ben Niediger said. He added the program has transitioned from pilot to the design phase for a new recycled-water facility that staff expect to operate in 2029.
The department also reported construction and design activity at key facilities. Lander Street is in an active construction phase with capacity additions and replacement of aging assets; staff described daily progress on heavy-construction elements. West Boise is in design and will begin construction to add capacity and address aging infrastructure and regulatory requirements.
Why it matters: Expanded recycled-water capacity and upgrades at existing plants will affect utility operations and capital budgets and are tied to regulatory compliance. Burgos said the water renewal fund is the largest Public Works fund and requires focused leadership to manage design, construction and operation.
Other technical and operational notes: Staff said pretreatment and phosphorus removal facilities are included in operations planning, and the department is recruiting project managers and program staff dedicated to water renewal projects. The department has also been running the phosphorus removal facility and preparing to incorporate pretreatment functions into operations this spring.
What’s next: Staff said they will return with detailed recycled-water design updates and that an advisory group has been engaged in water-quality discussions. Commissioners asked for future briefings and thanked staff for community tours and the data-driven pilot results.
Ending: Water Renewal staff emphasized continued recruitment of project managers and program management capacity to meet a growing capital program and regulatory obligations.
