PC - Drinking Water Project - City of Bellevue, Idaho

Drinking
Water
Project

One of the City of Bellevue’s greatest assets is a water right for 3.0 cfs from Springs that are tributary to Seamans Creek, often referred to as the Seamans Creek Springs. The Springs are located on the EE-DA-HO Ranch, with the City’s water right senior to the rights of the Ranch. The City’s main use of the Springs is drinking water. Because the City’s water right dates to 1880, and significant infrastructure modifications have not been made since the mid-1980’s, much of the infrastructure is in need of replacement. The age of the system also is its most valuable feature as the priority date of 1880 enjoys seniority over other water rights in times of drought.

Due to aging infrastructure and deficiencies on a sanitary survey, The City of Bellevue is in need of updating the water transmission line from the Spring to the reservoir tank to continue providing our residents clean safe drinking water. This project is very complex will require about 5 miles of new pipe over varying geographic landscapes, easement agreements between public and private property, and extensive surveying, to name a few of the logistics.

Draft Preliminary Engineering Report (DPER) submitted to IDEQ:
September 2026

The DPER was submitted to IDEQ on September 30, 2026. IDEQ will review the DPER for compliance with Idaho law, then will submit comments back to the City, if any. If comments are received, the City will review them, in consultation with its engineers and attorneys, and will discuss recommendations with Council as to how to proceed. Once comments from IDEQ are resolved, the Draft Preliminary Engineer Report will be finalized as a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER).

The PER will then serve as the basis for creation of design plans that Council will use to solicit bids for construction of this generational project. When the process for bidding closes, Council will then issue a notice to proceed to the lowest qualified bidder for construction. The City intends to begin construction on the water project in 2027, as soon as the conditions on the ground will allow. It is anticipated that construction should be completed by mid-2028.

As can be seen, the City has been under an ongoing obligation from IDEQ to correct deficiencies with its Springs collection system. In response to this obligation, Council voted on and authorized the Water Facility Plan, with the design intent to divert the entire 3.0 cfs from Seamans Creek Springs, consistent with the City’s water right and its elements, through replacement of aging infrastructure. All steps since Council’s approval of the Water Facility Plan have been fully consistent with what was authorized, with no material changes to the project. If the City does not move this project forward, it will face penalties and fines from IDEQ.

Region 10 EPA Grant Summer 2025

In Summer 2025 the City of Bellevue received notification that a grant application submitted by Mayor Giordani and Chris Johnson, Public Works Director was accepted for funding up to $4million to be used towards the drinking water project. This funding will not be released until more details are submitted with the project plan. These funds will give more capacity to meet the outline of proposed improvements.

Approved Water Facility Plan:
September 2024

In response to the findings of IDEQ, on September 9, 2024, Council approved a Water Facility Plan, prepared by an engineering firm, to address the issues identified by IDEQ, with Council electing to proceed with the minimum requirements imposed. Improvements to the City’s drinking water system that were authorized by Council, and as documented in the Water Facility Plan itself, included a new springs collection and transmission system including land and easements, if necessary, replacement of a portion of the waterline along Highway 75, and a leak detection survey. The design intent of the Water Facility Plan was to secure the City’s ability to receive and distribute the full 3.0 cfs of its 1880 water right to its residents. The anticipated improvements were generational in nature and would require millions of dollars in funding.

Revenue Bond Election Passed:
May 2024

On May 21, 2024, Bellevue’s residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of the revenue bond. The Seamans Creek Spring improvement project discussed during the Council’s September 28, 2026, meeting is a substantial and critical piece of this approved bond funding.

After the revenue bond passed, and in order to remain complaint with the authorizations that preceded it, the City’s engineer prepared a Draft Preliminary Engineering Report (DPER). The DPER is a direct outgrowth of the Water Facility Plan that was previously approved by Council. The DPER represents a 10,000-foot overview of how the project will be engineered, carrying forward the design intent of the project, which was to secure the full 3.0 cfs of the City’s water right, consistent with the water right’s elements.

Because the City’s water right from Seamans Creek Springs is located on EE-DA-HO Ranch, the City entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the current owner of the property to discuss certain components of the project, particularly how to ensure, among other things, that the City would not divert in excess of 3.0 cfs from the Springs, while remaining within the footprint of the collection system, both as it exists today and as defined by the City’s water right. Notably, the City’s water right only authorizes it to divert water from Seamans Creek Springs above the upper-most reservoir on the EE-DA-HO Ranch property, with the City legally unable to collect water below that point. Comments from the landowner have been received and considered, with discussions ongoing.

Bond Election Authorized:
February 2024

Because of the long-term nature of the project and funding needs, on February 26, 2024, Council authorized a special municipal bond election, which asked residents to approve up to $7,000,000 in revenue bonds for: (i) construction of a new spring collection system; (ii) reconstruction of a transmission main; (iii) construction and replacement of watermain improvements; and (iv) identifying and repairing leaks in the water system and other improvements and betterments of the water system.

Entered Compliance Agreement Schedule with Idaho DEQ:
February 2022

On February 4, 2022, the City entered into a Compliance Agreement with IDEQ to resolve the deficiencies.

Sanitary Survey: August 2021

In August 2021, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) completed a Sanitary Survey that identified fourteen regulatory deficiencies with the City’s drinking water system. A majority of the deficiencies centered around the potential for contaminates to enter the drinking water system.

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Drinking
Water
Project

Draft Preliminary Engineering Report (DPER) submitted to IDEQ:
September 2026

Region 10 EPA Grant Summer 2025

Approved Water Facility Plan:
September 2024

Revenue Bond Election Passed:
May 2024

Bond Election Authorized:
February 2024

Entered Compliance Agreement Schedule with Idaho DEQ:
February 2022

Sanitary Survey: August 2021

Bellevue City Hall

Helpful Links

The City of Bellevue, Idaho

Drinking Water Project

Draft Preliminary Engineering Report (DPER) submitted to IDEQ:September 2026

Region 10 EPA Grant Summer 2025

Approved Water Facility Plan:September 2024

Revenue Bond Election Passed: May 2024

Bond Election Authorized:February 2024

Entered Compliance Agreement Schedule with Idaho DEQ: February 2022

Sanitary Survey: August 2021

Friction Seal to begin on Tuesday June 30th on the following streets: Oak Street, Chestnut Loop, Sunrise Ranch Road, Summit Lane, Ridge View Drive, Parkside Drive to Slaughter House Road, Slaughter House Road to 8th Street. Please click HERE for more details. ​

Drinking
Water
Project

Draft Preliminary Engineering Report (DPER) submitted to IDEQ:
September 2026

Approved Water Facility Plan:
September 2024

Revenue Bond Election Passed:
May 2024

Bond Election Authorized:
February 2024

Entered Compliance Agreement Schedule with Idaho DEQ:
February 2022

Friction Seal to begin on Tuesday June 30th on the following streets: Oak Street, Chestnut Loop, Sunrise Ranch Road, Summit Lane, Ridge View Drive, Parkside Drive to Slaughter House Road, Slaughter House Road to 8th Street. Please click HERE for more details.