Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls, ID water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
idaho falls city of
groundwater (wells) · local government · PWSID ID7100039
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 59,184 residents, Idaho Falls ranks as the 4th-largest city in Idaho and a small but growing city. Water in Idaho Falls is sourced chiefly from Snake River, Snake River Plain aquifer, and snowpack, the backbone of Idaho's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: agricultural demand. Intensive irrigation gives Idaho some of the highest per-capita withdrawals in the nation; aquifer recharge is a growing focus.
Statewide, Idaho recycles about 9% of its wastewater with developing reuse programs. Locally, Idaho Falls faces exceptional drought conditions.
The Idaho state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Idaho Falls's water future.
Bonneville County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~59,184 (4th-largest in Idaho)
- Primary sources: Snake River, Snake River Plain aquifer, and snowpack
- Drought: exceptional conditions
- State reuse rate: ~9% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Idaho in severe+ drought (Exceptional (D4) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls's largest water system, IDAHO FALLS CITY OF, serves about 69,450 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 3 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Idaho Falls get its water?
IDAHO FALLS CITY OF draws primarily from groundwater (wells), part of Idaho's supply from Snake River, Snake River Plain aquifer, snowpack.
Related water issues
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