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Residents urge council to press Farmers Union and sewer district for notice, testing and moratorium
Summary
Hundreds of residents and irrigation shareholders used a large public‑comment block to demand more notice about the Farmers Union–Eagle Sewer District agreement, to call for PFAS testing and to request that the city explore legal or regulatory options including a moratorium or additional protections.
At least 37 people who had signed up to speak addressed the council on April 14, nearly all directing comments toward the Farmers Union Ditch Company contract with Eagle Sewer District to accept Class A recycled water. Speakers included longtime landowners, farmers, scientists and shareholders who said they were not notified before the agreement was executed and warned of long‑term impacts on wells, crops and livestock.
"We don't want the forever chemicals on our land," said a resident who farms garlic and keeps sheep, emphasizing local food production and multi‑generational land use. Others cited scientific literature and regulatory trends and urged the council to seek independent PFAS testing for soils, wells and the canal prior to broad implementation. Several public commenters said they had filed complaints with the Idaho Attorney General or with regulatory bodies about Farmers Union governance and lack of shareholder notice; one speaker said the Farmers Union January board election seated an ineligible board member and that the process was under legal challenge.
Speakers proposed alternatives including: paying to remove nutrients to potable levels (acknowledging higher costs), piping reused water to non‑food irrigation uses (purple pipe), limiting reuse to non‑food crops or turf, purchasing additional treatment technology, or returning treated flow to the Boise River. Commenters also asked the city to use its shareholder position with Farmers Union to press for changes and to help arrange joint Farmer Union public meetings so downstream users can review agreements.
Council responses varied; the mayor and multiple councilmembers stressed that Eagle City is a shareholder in Farmers Union but does not operate the ditch and that the Eagle Sewer District is the jurisdiction for treatment and permitting. Several council members requested additional documentation from staff and the sewer district, and the mayor encouraged residents to file formal comments with the appropriate agencies.
The council did not take formal action to change the contract at the meeting. Residents said they will continue to press elected boards and regulators for testing, transparency and, in some cases, legal remedies.
