Nampa raises domestic water, irrigation utility rates in 2026 – KTVB

Report on Nampa’s Water Infrastructure Investment and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The city of Nampa has approved increases to its domestic and irrigation water utility rates, effective in 2026. This decision is a direct response to the critical state of the city’s aging water infrastructure. A significant portion of the underground pipe network is at or near its end of life, posing a substantial risk to the community’s water security. The approved financial strategy is an essential investment in building resilient infrastructure and ensuring long-term sustainability, directly aligning with the objectives of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Infrastructure Assessment and SDG Imperatives

State of Current Water Systems

The city’s water delivery systems face significant challenges due to deferred maintenance and aging components. The current state of the infrastructure directly threatens the reliability and safety of the water supply, resulting in frequent and costly emergency repairs.

• Domestic Water System: Of the 648 miles of domestic water pipes, 161 miles are at or near their end of life. An additional 40 miles require immediate replacement, and nearly 50 miles are over 50 years old.
• Irrigation System: The city manages one of Idaho’s largest pressurized irrigation systems, with 545 miles of pipe. Of this, 154 miles are at or near end of life, with 18 miles needing immediate replacement.
• System Failures: In the past year, the city experienced 47 domestic and irrigation mainline breaks. On average, crews respond to 20 emergency water breaks annually. The recent Northside Boulevard break, an example of an end-of-life pipe failure, is projected to cost nearly $200,000 for emergency repair—a cost five times higher than a planned replacement.

Alignment with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) & SDG 9 (Resilient Infrastructure)

The condition of Nampa’s water infrastructure presents a direct challenge to achieving key sustainable development targets. The frequent breaks and deteriorating pipes undermine efforts to guarantee universal access to safe and affordable drinking water (SDG 6). This proactive investment is crucial for upgrading and retrofitting infrastructure to make it sustainable and resilient (SDG 9, Target 9.1). By moving from a reactive, high-cost emergency repair model to a planned replacement strategy, the city is investing in the long-term resilience required to support its community and economic development.

Financial Strategy for Sustainable Water Management

A significant funding gap has been identified in addressing the infrastructure deficit. The city currently spends $3.6 million annually on pipe replacement, while the required investment is estimated at $12 million. This results in an annual deferral of $8.4 million in necessary maintenance. The approved rate adjustments are designed to close this gap and fund the long-term replacement project.

Domestic Water Utility Rate Adjustment

To secure funding for critical domestic water infrastructure, a 10% rate increase will become effective on February 1, 2026. This adjustment is based on a cost-of-service study aimed at fairly allocating costs and promoting the efficient use of water, in line with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

• The average monthly residential bill will increase by approximately $3.24, from $32.12 to $35.36.
• Projected average monthly bills for subsequent fiscal years are as follows:

1. FY 2026: $35.36
2. FY 2027: $38.91
3. FY 2028: $42.78
4. FY 2029: $47.02
5. FY 2030: $51.73
6. FY 2031: $54.01
7. FY 2032: $56.47

Irrigation Water Utility Rate Adjustment

Effective March 1, 2026, the irrigation water rate will increase by 5%, or $10 per year for the average resident. This will raise the average annual cost from $199.05 to $209.05. This measure provides necessary funding to begin addressing the 154 miles of irrigation pipe at or near their end of life.

Regional Context and Affordability

Despite the increase, Nampa’s water rates remain highly competitive within the Treasure Valley, ensuring continued progress toward the “affordable” water access component of SDG 6. The current average domestic rate of $32.12 is the second lowest among 20 regional communities, with only Meridian charging less.

Conclusion: Investing in a Sustainable and Resilient Future

The decision to increase water utility rates represents a crucial and responsible investment in the future of Nampa. This proactive measure directly addresses the risks posed by aging infrastructure and aligns the city’s fiscal policy with its long-term sustainability objectives. By funding the systematic replacement of deteriorating pipes, the city is taking decisive action to ensure the delivery of safe and reliable water (SDG 6), build resilient infrastructure (SDG 9), and foster a safe and sustainable community for its residents (SDG 11). Failure to make these investments would inevitably lead to more frequent, costly, and disruptive system failures, undermining the city’s progress toward a sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Nampa’s water utility rates and aging infrastructure connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus is on ensuring a reliable and safe water supply, which directly involves infrastructure maintenance and financial planning for a sustainable community.

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The core issue discussed is the provision of domestic drinking water and irrigation water. The article highlights the threat to a continuous and safe water supply due to aging pipes, evidenced by frequent water main breaks and outages. The mayor’s statement, “If we don’t have domestic water to drink, we don’t have anything to drink,” underscores the fundamental importance of this goal.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The article is centered on the challenge of maintaining and upgrading critical infrastructure. It specifies that out of 648 miles of domestic water pipes, 161 miles are at “end of life,” and 40 miles need immediate replacement. This focus on developing reliable and resilient infrastructure to ensure the delivery of basic services is a key component of SDG 9.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The city of Nampa’s effort to manage its water system is an act of making the city more sustainable and resilient. The rate increases are a financial mechanism to ensure the long-term provision of a basic service (water) for its residents. The discussion also touches on affordability and the financial burden on citizens, which is crucial for creating inclusive and sustainable urban environments.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.1: “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” The article directly addresses this by discussing the necessity of replacing old pipes to prevent “water outages” and ensure a safe supply. It also extensively covers the affordability of water, detailing the current average bill ($32.12), the proposed increase ($3.24), and comparing Nampa’s rates to other cities to ensure they remain relatively low.
2. Under SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.” The entire article is about the city’s plan to fund the replacement of aging and failing water pipes. The “47 domestic water and irrigation mainline breaks” in the past year demonstrate a lack of reliability and resilience, which the proposed rate increase aims to fix by funding necessary upgrades.
3. Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.1: “By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services…” Access to a reliable water supply is a fundamental basic service. The city’s actions are aimed at securing this service for its community into the future.
   • Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce… the number of people affected and… direct economic losses… caused by disasters, including water-related disasters…” The article describes the water main breaks as “emergency” events that cause “traffic and water outages for the community.” The Northside break resulted in a direct economic loss of nearly $200,000 for an emergency repair. The city’s plan to proactively replace pipes is an effort to mitigate these small-scale, water-related infrastructure disasters and their economic impact.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

1. Indicators for Infrastructure Quality and Reliability (Targets 9.1, 11.5)
   • Miles of aging pipe: The article provides a clear baseline: 161 miles of domestic and 154 miles of irrigation pipes are at or near “end of life.” Progress can be measured by the annual reduction in these numbers.
   • Number of water main breaks: The article states there were “47 domestic water and irrigation mainline breaks” in the past year and an average of “20 emergency (water) breaks annually.” A decrease in this frequency would indicate improved infrastructure resilience.
   • Economic loss from failures: The cost of emergency repairs (e.g., the Northside break nearing “$200,000”) versus the cost of planned replacement (“one-fifth of the cost”) is a key financial indicator. Progress would be seen in a shift from high-cost emergency spending to lower-cost, planned capital investment.
2. Indicators for Financial Sustainability and Investment (Targets 9.1, 6.1)
   • Annual investment in infrastructure: The city identified a need to spend “$12 million a year” but is currently spending only “$3.6 million.” Tracking the annual capital expenditure on pipe replacement against this target would measure progress.
   • Affordability of water services: The article provides the average monthly water bill ($32.12) and its projected increases through 2032. This can be tracked over time and compared with household incomes and rates in neighboring cities to measure affordability.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ktvb.com