Boise, ID Water Quality Report
Is Boise tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Boise, Idaho. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Boise, ID tap water safe to drink? Boise, ID tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 8.42 ppt across 7 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Boise, ID water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Boise water: PFNA (51 ppt), PFOS (9.8 ppt), PFOA (5.9 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Boise, ID? Match the filter to what's in Idaho water: reverse osmosis handles PFAS, lead, and arsenic together (90%+ removal); pitchers certified to NSF-53 for PFAS like ZeroWater or PUR PLUS cover taps you drink from. A standard Brita pitcher will not remove PFAS.
Boise, ID Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Boise, ID drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 51 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 8.42 ppt across 7 detected compounds. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.
Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.
Top Detected Compounds
- PFNA: 51 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFOS: 9.8 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFOA: 5.9 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFHxS: 5.5 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFPeA: 5.4 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in Boise, ID Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 72 lead samples for Boise water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.011 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Boise, ID
Boise public water systems have 21 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Revised Total Coliform Rule, Ground Water Rule, Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, Combined Uranium, Lead and Copper Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national PFAS survey of US drinking water, covering about 10,000 public water systems. Population of Boise, ID: approximately 235,684.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Boise, ID to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Boise, Idaho Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- If anyone in your household is pregnant or under 5, prioritize a certified PFAS filter now and consider a home test kit
- For long-term protection, an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system removes 94-99% of PFAS
- Read the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) your Idaho utility publishes each year