Aquifer Protection Programs ensure top quality drinking water

Thanks to PHD's Aquifer Protection Program, many of us drink fresh, clean water every day from our household faucets. The Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, with help from Panhandle Health District's (PHD) Aquifer Protection Program, supplies us with such high quality water that it requires no special treatment before we drink it.

Protecting the water we drink

Most Kootenai County and some Bonner County residents have a priceless resource beneath their feet. It's fresh, clean water from the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, the sole source of drinking water for more than 500,000 people in two states.

Our great drinking water deserves protection

If you live over the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, the water out of your tap is fresh, clean and envied by so many people who don't have such a pristine drinking water source beneath them. With the population living over the aquifer constantly increasing, protecting the quality of the water is an important job.

Our Gem: Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Protection District Protecting Our Priceless Water Supply

The Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) aquifer covers about 370 square

Aquifer protection input sought

County schedules June 10 public hearing on issue

COEUR d'ALENE - Opinions, ideas and arguments regarding aquifer protection and maintenance are encouraged at a public hearing on June 10.

Idaho Water Board discusses drought, aquifer issues

Drought in the Idaho Panhandle has made it more difficult for water managers to maintain both summertime lake levels and streamflow below the lakes this summer.

Aquifer protection approved: Some say it doesn't go far enough to protect water supply

Kootenai County Commissioners approved an ordinance Thursday that aims to protect the county’s drinking water supply. Commissioners Bill Brooks and Leslie Duncan voted to adopt the ordinance that restricts septic density over the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer to one dwelling per 5 acres. Chris Fillios was not present for the meeting. “I don’t think there’s any question that the mass majority of people are in favor of this,” Brooks said.

Aquifer meeting is March 23

The Kootenai County Aquifer Protection District Policy and Budget Committee will conduct a public hearing later this month to hear public comments on aquifer protection needs.

WATER USAGE: What about the aquifer?

"Five billion gallons and counting!" The headline was alarming, but what does it really mean?

Our Gem: County acts to protect ground water

Idaho is the fastest growing state in the nation, and Kootenai County is the third fastest growing county in the state.

AQUIFER: It's worth protecting

Is there anyone out there who doesn't believe that the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer is one of the finest in the entire world? I am glad that the Health District and others are looking for ways to plan future growth but they also know how valuable the resource is. Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING should jeopardize the water in our aquifer.

Radioactive waste cleanup paying off for giant Idaho aquifer

Scientists say radioactive and chemical contamination in a giant aquifer below an eastern Idaho federal nuclear facility has decreased or remained constant in recent years

OUR GEM: Aquifer Atlas fifth edition to be available this spring

The fifth edition of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (SVRPA) Atlas is set to be printed and available early this spring.

Water takes center stage

Group focuses on conserving river, aquifer for drinking and sprinkling

Water conservation specialist talk about Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer

Going with the flow

Analysts present new data on pumping and river flows

COEUR d'ALENE - Regional hydrologists are close to understanding how pumping ground water from the aquifer affects the flow of the Spokane River.

The future of the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer

If you have any concerns about the future of the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, now is your chance to soak up some knowledge.

Protecting Idaho aquifers

Proposal would use water for groundwater recharge

BOISE - Gary Spackman, director of the state's water resources agency, is promoting draft legislation that could lead to new state rules to protect North Idaho water interests.

MY TURN: Vote with prairie, aquifer in mind

Without natural resource protection, our paradise is lost.

This aquifer is edible

Atlas Elementary students learn where our water comes from

COEUR d'ALENE - How do you impress upon second-graders the importance of protecting our region's drinking water source?

Public awareness program aimed at aquifer protection

They are appearing across Kootenai County - stormwater disks reminding the public that fluids flowing into drywells, catch basins and grassy swales eventually mix into our drinking water.