Aerial shot of Blackfoot
Credit: City of Blackfoot
(BLACKFOOT, IDAHO) – The city of Blackfoot is asking for resident cooperation as it implements a significantly expanded water testing program mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The increased sampling in Blackfoot stems from changes the EPA made to its Lead and Copper Rules in 2021, which require public water systems nationwide to conduct more frequent testing. As a result, the city’s required testing has intensified from just 30 samples every three years to 120 samples annually.
To manage the effort, the city has partnered with a company named 120 Water, which will contact eligible residents to coordinate sample collection. The testing specifically targets homes built before 1986 or those with copper plumbing and lead solder. Water Superintendent Princton Lee urges contacted households to complete and return the free sample kits promptly, noting it costs the water department an additional $35 to resend a kit. This community cooperation is essential for keeping the city’s water system in compliance with federal regulations and ensuring the safety of its drinking water.
