The City of Garden City's goal is to provide you with water that meets and exceeds all the standards for safe drinking water. The health and safety standards are set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (ID DEQ). These standards set the maximum contaminant levels for approximately 90 contaminants that are allowed in drinking water.
Where Does My Drinking Water Come From?
The City of Garden City supplies water from a number of wells throughout the city. To ensure the safety of your water, we monitor before, during and after the treatment process. All of our sources of supply are monitored and tested every year. We also sample and test water directly from the distribution system on a regular basis. We perform tests for Chlorine residual daily and bacteria every month. We also analyze for inorganic chemicals, heavy metals, volatile organic chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and radionuclides.
Garden City's water quality is presented in our Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), and provides important information about your drinking water. Both the EPA and the ID DEQ require water suppliers to provide this information to consumers. You can pick up a copy of this document at the main reception desk at City Hall, or download a Portable Document Format (PDF) of our CCR.
Water from our wells is treated with small amounts of disinfectant to protect against potentially hazardous microorganisms that can get into the water. We also feed very low doses of polyphosphate to sequester minerals (Iron and Manganese) and keep your water clear. Garden City flushes the lines each spring and fall, but this can be done at any time when color becomes evident.
What can make water have a sulfur smell?
Water containing small amounts of hydrogen sulfide does not pose a health risk, but can give water a nuisance "rotten egg" smell and taste, especially when it is heated in your hot water heater. Hot water heaters are usually supplied with a Magnesium anode. If this anode is changed to an aluminum anode, it will not react to the minerals in the water which can create a sulfur smell. Also, older pipes in homes and private water systems can affect the aesthetics of the water. While Garden City cannot address problems with plumbing in buildings, we can address the water lines from the street to the water meters.
How Will I Know if My Drinking Water Isn't Safe to Drink?
Your water supplier must notify you by newspaper, mail, radio, TV, or hand-delivery if your water doesn't meet EPA or state standards or if there is a water borne disease emergency. The notice will describe any precautions you need to take, such as boiling your water. Follow the advice of your water supplier if you ever receive such a notice. The most common drinking water emergency is when there is a positive test result that indicates harmful bacteria may be present. Boiling your water for one minute will kill these germs.
Who Can I Contact With My Concerns?
Garden City Public Works - Call 472-2949