NAMPA, Idaho — The City of Nampa has received a 10-year reuse permit, allowing it to use highly treated recycled water for irrigation and industrial needs in the community.
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality issued the permit, which city leaders said was the first of its kind in the state.
"To have received the first recycled water permit of its kind in Idaho took collaboration with key stakeholders and years of research and planning," Mayor Debbie Kling said in a statement. "The decision to reuse Nampa's water in this way will benefit generations to come."
According to the city, the recycled water program came out of a recommendation from Nampa's Wastewater Advisory Group in response to changing regulatory standards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"This innovative opportunity to reuse water resources will support the community's growing water needs and commitment to environmental stewardship," the city said in a news release on Tuesday.
The recycled water program will provide highly treated, Class A water to be used in the community in a variety of ways including irrigation, fire protection, and commercial and residential landscaping.
The water will not be used for drinking or other personal uses.
Nampa discharges about 11 million gallons of treated recycled water into Indian Creek every day, according to the city, and implementing a recycled water program will help Nampa achieve compliance with the EPA permit requirements five years ahead of a 2031 deadline.
The city expects to begin delivering recycled water into the Phyllis Canal in 2026.
An open house is planned for Public Works Week in May so the community can learn more about the recycled water program.
