Pressure Irrigation

What it is

To some Treasure Valley folks who have always flood-irrigated their farm or yard, pressure irrigation means buying a pump to suck water out of a ditch and then hooking up a garden hose to the pump. The pump "pressurizes" the water that used to be delivered by gravity (running down a ditch and spilling on the yard). In the Treasure Valley, "pressure irrigation" means taking ditch water and distributing it through pressure pipes.

In Boise, irrigation water is diverted from the Boise River and distributed by large irrigation canals and smaller irrigation laterals to local neighborhoods throughout the city. Subdivisions built in the last 10 years are eligible to hook up to the pressure irrigation system. The Boise Public Works Department has design standards for constructing pressure irrigation systems in new subdivisions.

What it's not

Pressure irrigation water is not water from the drinking water system (operated by United Water Idaho or the Capitol Water Company). If your neighborhood has pressure irrigation, it has a second water system for irrigation which is completely separate from the drinking water system. Property owners connect to the pressure irrigation system and use it to irrigate their property.

Who operates your pressure irrigation system?

Currently, the city of Boise operates and issues utility bills for pressure irrigation systems to selected subdivisions.