All of our water comes from the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) Aquifer, designated a sole source aquifer in 1978 by the EPA. This means that there are no reasonable alternative drinking water sources in the area if our aquifer were to become contaminated. Formed by massive Ice Age floods, the aquifer is a layer of permeable rock, sand, and gravel that stores and allows water to flow through it. Covering over 370 square miles, from Idaho's Pend Oreille Lake to just beyond the western edge of Spokane, the SVRP Aquifer ranges in depth from just a few feet in some areas to as much as 500 feet.
We live and work directly above this vital drinking water source, so protecting it is everyone's responsibility. You can help safeguard our aquifer by reducing your use of pesticides and fertilizers, ensuring that household chemicals are properly disposed of at hazardous waste facilities, and fixing any vehicle leaks that could allow harmful substances to seep into the ground. Every small action adds up to keeping our drinking water safe for generations to come.
Take a look at the latest SVRP Aquifer Atlas for a comprehensive summary of the region's most precious groundwater resource.
The City of Spokane has eight well stations located throughout the City to draw drinking water directly from the aquifer. The water from the aquifer is pure enough to be pumped directly from the ground and sent to customers without any treatment. We add chlorine to the water to ensure that purity is maintained throughout the distribution system.
A peek inside our 10 MG Rockwood Vista water storage tank
To move the water to higher elevations, storage tanks and reservoirs, booster stations are located throughout the City. These stations contain large pumps and motors to help move the well water from lower elevations to the tanks at higher elevations within the distribution system. Water at a higher elevation in a tank provides water pressure to the homes below it.
More than 1,000 miles of water mains are located throughout the City. Water reaches your house directly from service lines running off smaller mains. To meet customers' needs; the City has over 100 million gallons of water stored in reservoirs. The amount of water stored in a given tank depends on both the water demand for that area as well as the fire protection requirements
Throughout the year, hundreds of water quality tests are performed; water mains, valves and meters are repaired and replaced, and Water Department personnel continually search for leaks and problems to ensure you the highest quality drinking water possible. Expertly trained operators monitor the distribution system from a 24-hour control center.
The Water Conservation Master Plan presents goals, targets, strategies and actions to conserve our water supply and to sustainably manage it for future generations. The variety of water conservation activities provides an opportunity to reduce demand while minimizing customer sacrifice and have been selected based on their pumping reduction potential for a reasonable cost.
The City develops and maintains a Comprehensive Water System Plan that's designed to help ensure the continued, reliable delivery of safe drinking water at a reasonable cost, facilitate economic growth, and foster coordination with adjacent water purveyors.
Everyday, the Water Department is testing and monitoring Spokane's drinking water to ensure we meet and exceed all state and federal water safety regulations. We take pride in providing clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to our community.
View our annual Water Quality Report.
The City owns and operates a total of eight well stations, which are the City's sole water supply sources and provide high-quality drinking water to its customers. Check out the detailed study that determines the most cost-effective way to maximize resiliency for three of its existing drinking water source facilities
