Experts consider options over sources of city water

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – After years of drought and a declining Snake River Aquifer, experts are not ruling out any local lakes or even wastewater plant effluent as a source of city water.

Just five years ago, Twin Falls thought it had accumulated enough water sources to last for 50 years. Considering that diminishing supply, the city now finds itself pretty much starting over.

But since the first plan was devised, rounding up that water has become more complicated. The federal government recently said Twin Falls must lower naturally occurring arsenic levels in about 40 percent of its supply.

A committee is looking at a number of sources for water along the Snake River Canyon, including Devil’s Corral, Rock Creek, seepage tunnels and wastewater treatment plant effluent. It’s also working with state officials to change the use of certain water rights to purchase them.