Protecting Public Health and the Environment. Ground water is a
key resource supporting many aspects of Idaho's way of life. It
replenishes our streams and rivers and provides fresh water for
irrigation, industry, and communities. In addition, ground water
supplies 95% of the state's drinking water. As Idaho's
population grows, so does the need for clean, usable ground
water. DEQ is responsible for protecting the quality of ground
water in Idaho and relies on a combination of programs to
protect ground water from pollution, clean up degraded ground
water, and monitor and assess ground water quality. DEQ's ground
water policy is to maintain and protect the existing high
quality of Idaho's ground water and restore degraded ground
water where feasible to support ground water beneficial uses.
DEQ partners with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture
(ISDA), Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR), and many
other state, local, and private agencies, organizations,
businesses, and individuals to achieve this go