Residents of Sagle, Idaho, have been waiting for a permanent fix to dangerous heavy‑metal contamination in their drinking water. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) confirmed that the state is moving forward with a $6.7 million low‑interest loan package to help Cedar Springs Community Water, the small utility that serves roughly 130 customers in the community.
Lead levels exceed federal action threshold
Testing conducted earlier this year identified lead concentrations that were 1.2 times higher than the federal action level of 15 parts per billion. “There has been some test in for the community that show there is potential lead,” DEQ spokesperson MaryAnna Peavy said.
Funding and next steps
Peavy explained that the $6.7 million package comes in the form of low‑interest loans designed to keep borrowing costs affordable for Idaho’s rural water systems. In addition, the state has approved a separate $38,600 loan to fund corrosion‑control testing, which will pinpoint where lead may be leaching from aging pipes.
“This corrosion control is to, you know, do further testing to identify where the leads at, if there is lead, and for them to be able to replace that and take out those lead lines,” Peavy said.
Project scope and remaining needs
Current estimates place the total repair cost at about $7.2 million. Roughly $1.2 million has already been allocated for immediate repairs, leaving an estimated $5.4 million still to be funded by the state.
Statewide demand for water‑system assistance
Peavy noted that Idaho communities across the state have submitted more than $800 million in requests for water‑system repair assistance. “We only had about $150 million to put out,” she said, emphasizing that the state must prioritize projects based on urgency and public‑health impact. Cedar Springs Community Water was identified as a top priority because of the elevated lead readings and the small size of the system, which makes rapid action essential.
What residents can expect
While the loan package is now in place, the actual repair work will take several months to complete. The DEQ will continue to monitor water quality throughout the process and will provide updates to Sagle residents as milestones are reached.
Local officials encourage community members to stay informed through DEQ announcements and to report any concerns about water quality to the department’s hotline.
Original reporting: KHQ Spokane (news) — read the source article.
