Wastewater

Testing wastewater to gauge community health isn't a new idea, but it took off during the COVID-19 pandemic. Viral levels in sewage could predict a rise in confirmed infections and associated increases in hospital visits.

It’s Friday, which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters gets you up to date on all the news that made headlines this past week.

In Maine, a three-person crew at the East End Treatment Plant works nonstop to keep an aging system running when a hazardous contaminant creates a serious problem.

Two city of Boise public works employees are in Germany this week, inspecting new equipment that will sanitize more than 20 million gallons of city wastewater each day on its way to the Boise River.

Experts discuss about the systems, investments and planning that make up wastewater and drinking water infrastructure and future needs to serve Idaho's rapidly growing populace.

In Idaho, there are 450 different systems to take care of wastewater and more than 2,000 systems that bring safe drinking water to homes across the state. Now, a new report has revealed that many of these treatment plants are old and falling apart.

A leak discovered in late September and fixed on Oct. 10 triggered more than $75,000 in water bills for the local sewer district. Typical monthly water bills for the district are under $1,000 this time of year.

Craft beer has boomed over the last 15 years. But brewing it takes a lot of water: a seven-to-one ratio on average, according to the Brewer’s Association. More efficient breweries typically use less.

COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise all across the United States, with experts saying it's being driven largely by the emergence of a new dominate strain.

An annual report compiled by the Idaho Conservation League shows that while some facilities have improved from past years, over half of Idaho’s wastewater treatment plants had at least one violation of the Clean Water Act in 2022.