The Star Sewer and Water District has grown at a staggering rate of more than 10% annually for the last few years, driving the need for improved water supply. Amid this growth, the District’s primary Well 3 unexpectedly began pumping sand and had to be abandoned. The District was also forced to abandon Well 2 due to poor water quality; this left only Well 1 to meet main pressure zone water demands, creating an even greater supply shortage. During this time, complaints also increased from customers drawing from Well 1 about poor water taste, odor, and discoloration (due to naturally occurring iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide).

Faced with these challenges, the District turned to Keller to provide engineering services to improve overall water quality and replenish the water supply. Keller used a unique drilling and monitoring well approach to identify sites for two new wells. In addition to the new wells and pumping facilities, the $5.5 million effort included a five-pump regional booster station, a 750,000-gallon concrete water tank constructed in the challenging terrain of the Star foothills, repairs to a 30-year-old water tank, and more than 4,000 feet of 10-inch to 24-inch waterlines.

After suffering for decades with poor water taste, odor, and discoloration, the Star community now has desirable water that will meet needs for years to come. This project was awarded a first place 2022 ACEC Idaho Engineering Excellence Award for Water Resources and a 2022 Idaho Business Review Top Projects People’s Choice Award.