Table 4-22 TOC
Selected Water Quality Information, in Idaho, the Region, and the U.S., during 1987-1988
  unit ID AK MT NV OR UT WA WY U.S.

Groundwater, pesticide contaminated
1987 %[1] 22.5   3.7 0 0.6 0 6.9 0.6 14.9
  U.S. rank 39   14 1 8 1 25 9 -
Lakes and reservoirs
1988 (1,000 acres)[2] 363 12,787 756   611   614 427 35,754
  (% impaired)[2] 0 46.9 47.9   25.9   21.5 7.1 25.7
  U.S. rank 1 39 41   29   27 12 -
Population w/ Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) violations
1987 %[3] 17 48 16 5.9 9.7 7.2 44.5 18.7 14.5
  U.S. rank 40 48 35 12 29 19 47 42 -
Rivers and streams
1988 (mi.)[4] 7,310 365,000 20,532   90,000   40,492 19,437 522,792
  (% impaired)[4] 17.3 47 37.1   54.8   50.3 17.3 30.4
  U.S. rank 12 34 29   39   38 11 -
Spending on water quality & development
1988 $/capita[5] 22.1 14.33 26.72 18.68 6.3 9.01 14.73 145.11 12.47
  U.S. rank 6 18 4 11 28 21 16 1 -
Surface and groundwater, possibly contaminated
1987 %[1] 27   10.4 0 2 0 10.8 1.4 34.1
  U.S. rank 27   14 1 9 1 15 7 -
Water systems violating Safe Drinking Water Act
1987 %[6] 35.7 78.8 53.2 33.8 52.9 33.5 66.6 64.6 -
  U.S. rank 39 50 45 38 44 37 48 47 -
Water systems w/ significant noncompliance
1987 %[7] 1.79 78.29 1.4 28.35 2.5 0.73 18.68 2.85 3.37
  U.S. rank 31 50 28 49 36 13 47 39 -
Wells w/ unsafe nitrates
1987 %[8] 1.7 2.4 3.8 0.9 1.2 2 4.3 3.8 6.4
  U.S. rank 19 25 29 10 13 20 33 29 -

Sources: Bob Hall and Mary Lee Kerr, 1991-1992 Green Index: A State-by-State Guide to the Nation's Environmental Health (Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1991). Reprinted with permission.
  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Agricultural Economic Report no. 576, 1987.
  National Wildlife Federation, Danger on Tap: The Government's Failure to Enforce the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, National Wildlife Federation, October 1988.
  U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Table 8, National Water Summary, 1984 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1985).
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Regulations and Standards, National Water Quality Inventory: 1988 Report to Congress, March 1990.
  Council of State Governments, Research Guide to State Environmental Management, 2d ed. (Lexington, KY: Council of State Governments, 1991).
[1] Percentage of state's population served by public water supplies in counties potentially contaminated by pesticides or agricultural chemicals (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Economic Report no. 576).
[2] Total acres of lakes and reservoirs and percentage of total acres that partially or completely fail to meet their designated use for drinking, recreation, or fishing (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
[3] Percentage of population in 1987 served by community water systems with at least one violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Each of the nation's 60,000 community water systems serves at least 15 connections or 25 people year-round W
[4] Total miles of rivers and streams and percentage of total miles that partially or completely fail to meet their designated use for drinking, recreation, or fishing (U.S. Protection Agency).
[5] Per-capita spending in fiscal year 1988 for Safe Drinking Water Act and public drinking water programs, water quality protection, and water resource conservation and development. Includes state, federal, and other funds (fines, licenses) that through state budgetary process. Excludes funds for coastal water and marine protection (Council of State Governments).
[6] Percentage of public water systems with one or more violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act during fiscal year 1987 (National Wildlife Federation, on Tap).
[7] Percentage of community water systems in significant, chronic violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act during fiscal year 1987 (National Wildlife Danger on Tap).
[8] Percentage of wells tested that had 10 or more milligrams per liter of nitrogen or nitrates, which exceeds the Safe Drinking Water Act standard set by U.S. Protection Agency. Data come from wells tested over a 25-year period (U.S. Geological Survey).

Originally compiled by: Diane Prorak
Data input assisted by: Robert Anton-Erik
Contact:
Lily Wai