Meridian
Meridian, ID water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
meridian water dept
groundwater (wells) · private · PWSID ID4010097
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 90,739 residents, Meridian ranks as the 2nd-largest city in Idaho and a small but growing city. Water in Meridian 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, Meridian faces exceptional drought conditions.
The Idaho state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Meridian's water future.
Ada County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~90,739 (2nd-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 Meridian?
Meridian's largest water system, MERIDIAN WATER DEPT, serves about 147,340 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 2.5 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Meridian get its water?
MERIDIAN WATER DEPT 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