The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is accepting public comments on a draft reuse permit for Mountain Home’s municipal wastewater and recycled water system, with submissions due by August 24, 2026.

What the Permit Covers

The draft permit — designated M-037-05 — applies to the city’s Class II wastewater treatment plant and its Class C recycled water reuse facility, both of which Mountain Home owns and operates. The permit establishes monitoring requirements along with nutrient and hydraulic loading limits, and sets conditions aimed at protecting public health and the environment.

Under the permit’s terms, the city must demonstrate that its operations do not pose public health or environmental risks. The facility produces an average of 201 million gallons of recycled water annually, which is used to irrigate land during the growing season.

Scale of the Operation

The system currently irrigates 351 acres during the growing season, with a total permitted acreage of 529 acres. The reuse facility represents a significant recycled water operation for a municipality of Mountain Home’s size, channeling treated wastewater back into productive agricultural use rather than direct discharge.

How to Comment

The public comment period runs through 5 p.m. Mountain Time on August 24, 2026. The draft permit and accompanying staff analysis are available for review at two Boise locations: the DEQ State Office at 1410 N. Hilton Street and the DEQ Boise Regional Office at 1445 N. Orchard Street. Both documents are also accessible on the DEQ website.

Wastewater reuse permitting is part of DEQ’s broader mission to protect Idaho’s water resources while enabling communities to manage their water supplies efficiently. Reuse permits require ongoing demonstration that operations meet state environmental and public health standards before final authorization is granted.

Mountain Home, the seat of Elmore County, sits in a high desert region where water management is a persistent local concern. Recycled water systems like this one allow communities to stretch limited water supplies and reduce the volume of treated effluent entering natural waterways.