Idaho
Idaho sits in the West and draws its water primarily from Snake River, Snake River Plain aquifer, and snowpack. With roughly 1.96 million residents, the state has a developing water reuse program, reusing an estimated 9% of its treated wastewater.
Idahowater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Idaho
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 95 |
| Groundwater Rule | 74 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 60 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 18 |
| Arsenic | 15 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | 12 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Intensive irrigation gives Idaho some of the highest per-capita withdrawals in the nation; aquifer recharge is a growing focus.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Idaho currently tracks around exceptional conditions. Idaho has 774 community water systems serving about 2 million people; EPA records show 251 of them (32.4%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Idaho in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 219 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 17.7 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 30.2%
- Irrigation share
- 86.2%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~9%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Snake River
- ≈ Snake River Plain aquifer
- ≈ snowpack
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Idaho?
Idaho has 774 community water systems serving about 2 million people. EPA records show 251 of them (32.4%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 10 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Idaho's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Revised Total Coliform Rule, Groundwater Rule, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS.
How much water does Idaho use per person?
Public water systems in Idaho withdraw about 219 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 30.2% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Idaho?
As of 2026-06-09, 85.5% of Idaho is in drought (D1+) and 54.5% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Idaho
6 trackedBoise
Boise, ID water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Meridian
Meridian, ID water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Nampa
Nampa, ID water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls, ID water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Pocatello
Pocatello, ID water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Caldwell
Caldwell, ID water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Idaho
Agricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
ExploreGroundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExploreDrought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
Explore