Idaho plan seeks $300 million for water treatment systems

By KEITH RIDLER
Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho officials want to spend $300 million over the next five years to upgrade drinking water and wastewater treatment systems across the state. Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Director Jess Byrne told the Legislature’s budget committee on Thursday that the plan is to spend $60 million annually over the next five years. The money is coming from President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act approved last year. Republican Gov. Brad Little’s plan calls for using a big chunk of Idaho’s share of those funds to shore up the state’s water infrastructure.