EPA issues new permits to improve Boise River water quality

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued two updated discharge permits to improve water quality of Boise River located in the state of Idaho.

Currently, about 1,100 pounds of phosphorus is being discharged everyday from the City of Boise’s two wastewater treatment plants.

The EPA permits are set to help reduce the amount of this pollution entering the river during summer months by 98%.

The permits also require the city to reduce mercury and ammonia discharges and call for cooler water entering the river from the Lander Street and West Boise treatment plants.

Once the two plants fulfill the requirements of permits, they will discharge no more than 15 pounds of phosphorus every day.

The city will also make the pollution reductions and achieve the new permit limits for phosphorus and temperature within ten years.

Meanwhile, technology upgrades at the two wastewater treatment plants will be undertaken to remove the majority of phosphorus within the next five years.

Image: The new EPA permits will help reduce the water pollution in the Boise River located in the US state of Idaho. Photo: Fredlyfish4.