City of Post Falls Aeration Basin

OUR GEM: What We Flush Matters, Protecting the Spokane River Together

By Alyssa Gersdorf, Environmental Program Supervisor for the City of Post Falls Every day in Post Falls and Rathdrum, about 3 million gallons of wastewater leave homes and businesses and begin a journey most people never think about. Whether it’s flushed, washed from showers, or sent down sink drains, everything entering the sewer system follows the same path, and not all of it behaves as expected. It all flows to the Post Falls Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), where the water…

Page Wastewater Treatment Plant SCC

OUR GEM: From Drain to River, How a Local Treatment Plant Is Improving Water Quality

By Pilar Deniston, Coeur d’Alene Lake ARPA Project Coordinator for Idaho DEQ When water from your home, whether from the toilet, sinks, or shower goes down the drain, it travels through a network of pipes to a wastewater treatment facility (unless you’re on a private septic system). There, it undergoes a series of treatment steps to become clean enough to return safely to the natural environment. The process begins with pretreatment, where large debris like sticks and plastic, along with…

Coeur d'Green Landscaping

OUR GEM: Coeur d’Alene’s Wastewater History

OUR GEM: Coeur d’Alene’s Wastewater History By Mike Anderson, City of Coeur d’Alene Wastewater Utility Director In 1939, the City of Coeur d’Alene began treating its wastewater at a brand-new facility. This plant used secondary treatment, a new level of technology just beginning to be seen in large cities, but almost unheard of in small communities like ours, with a population of barely 10,000. Motivated by a desire to be a good neighbor and environmental stewards, the City was also…

Protecting Our Greatest Resource

Protecting Our Greatest Resource

This story was written by Guest author: Jason Peppin on behalf of the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, December 4, 2022. Read the original article. One of the greatest treasures North Idaho has to offer is the abundance of surface water and groundwater. As our area continues to develop, effectively managing impacts of wastewater disposal to this precious resource is becoming increasingly important. Although our area boasts some of the most advanced municipal wastewater treatment facilities…

Managing Stormwater

Guest author: Chris Bosley, City Engineer for the city Coeur d’Alene For the sake of the lake’s health, the City of Coeur d’Alene has been working to reduce the amount of untreated stormwater runoff that enters Coeur d’Alene Lake and the Spokane River. Stormwater runoff in the southeastern area of the city is collected and conveyed through pipes to thirteen outfalls along Coeur d’Alene Lake and the Spokane River. Stormwater discharge into the water is permitted under the Idaho Pollutant…

Mudgy and Millie Want to See Only Rain Down the Drain

Mudgy and Millie Want to See Only Rain Down the Drain

Mudgy and Millie, the loveable moose and mouse combo who started their journey right here in Coeur d’Alene, have a new message that will be revealed June 15 during Live After 5. They have recently teamed up with Idaho State Department of Agriculture, the University of Idaho, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the City of Coeur d’Alene, Avista and the Arts Commission. The dynamic duo will be featured on a new sign located near the Third Street Boat Launch. Two…

Avoid Stormwater Poo-llution and Pick Up After Your Pet

Avoid Stormwater Poo-llution and Pick Up After Your Pet

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, Mar. 20, 2022. Read the original article. Spring showers are quickly washing away the snow that has lingered since the beginning of the year. As snow recedes, many long-buried treasures are revealed like that one soggy glove you’ve been looking for all winter, but the most frustrating remnant of winter snowmelt is something that pollutes our waters with bacteria and nutrients. Waterlogged dog poop now…

Ho Ho How to Dispose of Hazardous Waste

Ho Ho How to Dispose of Hazardous Waste

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. Read the original article. As the holidays approach, you might find yourself making room for new things your family acquires during the season of gift giving. You may be thinning out your children’s outdated toys or cleaning out old chemicals in the basement blocking your holiday decorations (that you should have put up last week!). Regardless of what treasures you find in…

Keep Your Butts Out of the Water

Keep Your Butts Out of the Water

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative for the CDA Press on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. Read the original article. November is typically the rainiest month of the year in Coeur d’Alene. That also means our storm drains are put to the test each fall. Storm drains are meant to help remove rainwater from streets and highways to reduce flooding, prevent vehicles from hydroplaning and in winter minimize standing water that can freeze. Most people understand that they are…

When Leaves Fall, the City Gets Busy

When Leaves Fall, the City Gets Busy

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative for the CDA Press on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. Read the original article. Fall is such a beautiful time of year in Coeur d’Alene with all the deciduous trees changing vibrant colors as their leaves slowly cover our sidewalks and lawns. Fall is also the time of year for Coeur d’Alene’s Annual Leaf Fest, which begins Monday November 8, allowing residents to rake leaves out into the street for pickup. We will…