Ada County, Idaho — public water systems

How does Ada County compare with other Idaho counties?

Ada County has the 5th-most active public water systems among the 64 counties listed for active Idaho systems in EPA records; among the 47 with 3 or more systems, the median has 27. Its systems report 511,514 people served in total, the largest county figure in the state and 29% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 5,880 people, about 6.5 times the Idaho average of 899. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Ada County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Ada County's active systems draw on groundwater (84, 97%), purchased surface water (2, 2.3%) and surface water (1, 1.1%). Overall, 97% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 3.4% on surface water, compared with 96% and 4.1% across Idaho. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Veolia Water Idaho, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Ada County?

Ada County's active systems break down as 54 community systems (62%), 11 non-transient non-community systems (13%) and 22 transient non-community systems (25%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (82%), local government (8%), state government (5.7%) and federal government (3.4%).