On September 17, 2007 United Water Idaho filed an application with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission seeking authority to convert to monthly meter reading and billing for all customers. Currently, water meters are read and billed every two months.

In its application, the company said customers will realize several benefits of moving to a monthly reading and billing schedule, including:

• Easier budgeting and easier to pay than a bi-monthly bill
• Enhanced water conservation and lower bills through the provision of more timely information on consumption, allowing customers to make changes in water use practices during the irrigation season
• More frequent visits to a customer's home or business by United Water Idaho personnel, enabling quicker detection and troubleshooting of customer leaks or meter problems

Read more about it.

• Customer Letter
• Testimony to PUC
• Press Release
• PUC Application
  

As the Boise Valley continues its steady march toward urbanization, the demand placed on one of its most essential resources has grown as well. Our traditional ground water supply sources, (aquifers and wells) can no longer meet the needs of our community which is growing at a rate of 2-3 percent per year. Ground water is a limited resource that does not always replenish itself as rapidly as surface water (rivers, reservoirs and streams), which generally renew annually through rainfall and melting snow pack. As a result, United Water has launched the Renewable Resource Initiative. The goal of this program is to shift reliance on new sources of water from ground water wells to surface water. The Renewable Resource Initiative is designed to meet current and future water needs of the Boise Valley and to help prevent water usage restrictions. It will also help meet more stringent drinking water standards.

Read more about it

• Renewable Resource White Paper
• Renewable Resource Press Release

The new Columbia Water Treatment Plant is a key element in United Water's Renewable Resource Initiative. The state-of the art plant will treat water from the Boise River and help United Water meet Boise's growing water needs. The plant will initially expand the company's water capacity by 6 million gallons a day (MGD). The facility is designed for incremental capacity additions of 1-2 MGD as required. The anticipated build out capacity of 20 MGD could occur over a 15-20 year period. In addition to using a renewable surface water supply, the plant uses cutting-edge membrane filtration technology. This process uses a physical barrier that will not permit minute particles to pass through to the finished water. The result is higher water quality, better removal of microbiological contaminants and the ability to meet more stringent drinking water standards. Read more about it

• Columbia Treatment Plant Fact Sheet

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E-mail: uwid@unitedwater.com.