Who supplies Star’s water
Star Sewer & Water District
EPA system ID ID4010220Groundwater only: the main production well (Well Site No. 7) draws from an aquifer about 700 feet deep, plus four supplemental wells drawing from aquifers more than 300 feet deep. Wells are in basalt; chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) disinfection.
Star water report, by the numbers
| What was measured | Result | Federal limit | EWG guideline | Year · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 3.6 (range ND–3.6) ppb | 10 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 2025Star Sewer & Water District 2025 Consumer Confidence Report |
| Nitrate | 1.5 (range ND–1.5) ppm | 10 ppm | 0.14 ppm | 2025Star Sewer & Water District 2025 Consumer Confidence Report |
| Lead (90th percentile) 0 of 30 sites above the action level. | 1 ppb | 15 ppb action level | — | 2025Star Sewer & Water District 2025 Consumer Confidence Report |
| Copper (90th percentile) 0 of 30 sites above the action level. | 0.030 ppm | 1.3 ppm action level | — | 2025Star Sewer & Water District 2025 Consumer Confidence Report |
| Fluoride | 0.470 (range 0.350–0.470) ppm | 4 ppm | — | 2025Star Sewer & Water District 2025 Consumer Confidence Report |
| Chlorine | 0.451 average (range 0.40–0.52) ppm | 4 ppm MRDL | — | 2025Star Sewer & Water District 2025 Consumer Confidence Report |
| Uranium | 2.18 pCi/L | EPA MCL is 30 µg/L (EWG lists 20 pCi/L) | 0.43 pCi/L | 2018–2023 avgEWG Tap Water Database |
| Radium 226 + 228 | 0.5 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | 0.05 pCi/L | 2018–2023 avgEWG Tap Water Database |
| TTHMs | 0.177 ppb | 80 ppb | 0.15 ppb | 2021–2023 avgEWG Tap Water Database |
| Lithium (unregulated, UCMR5) | 17.97 average (range 15.7–20) ppb | No federal limit | — | 2024Star Sewer & Water District 2025 Consumer Confidence Report |
EWG figures are utility annual averages for 2021–2023 (radiological 2018–2023) from tests the utilities report to Idaho DEQ. EWG health guidelines are health-based goals, not legal limits. “ND” means not detected.
Why Star water can smell or look off
The district’s FAQ explains two common complaints. Discolored water comes from naturally occurring iron and manganese reacting with chlorine. A rotten-egg odor comes from hydrogen sulfide formed from sulfate in the basalt aquifer. The district completed a $5 million project in 2021 (new wells, a pump station and a 750,000-gallon reservoir) to improve water quality.
In a home, whole-home carbon filtration helps with sulfur odor and chlorine taste; iron staining is best handled with media sized to your actual iron reading.
Drinking water vs. pressurized irrigation
The district supplies domestic water only. Its rules (Resolution 2024-3) prohibit using domestic water for irrigation when an alternative source exists, and most Star subdivisions have HOA-managed pressurized irrigation supplied by an irrigation district.
Private wells and the Northeast Star nitrate area
Idaho DEQ designates the Northeast Star Nitrate Priority Area as an area of degraded groundwater. In September–October 2025, DEQ invited private well owners there to free sampling for nitrate, arsenic, uranium and bacteria. If you’re on a well near Star, test at least for bacteria and nitrate every year, as Central District Health recommends. See how to test your water.
Violations on record
The district reports no violations of standards or monitoring requirements in 2025. EPA’s ECHO database lists one chlorine monitoring and reporting violation (December 2024, resolved December 31, 2024).
On a private well?
Ada County is served by Central District Health
CDH does not hand out test kits. Its staff collect private-well samples for a fee ($145 collection plus lab fees, July 2026 fee schedule), or you can take a sample to a certified lab yourself. CDH recommends testing well water once a year for bacteria and nitrate.
Treating Star water
Get an honest recommendation
Tell us what you’re noticing and we’ll recommend only what your water needs, with one written price. If you don’t need a system, we’ll say so.
Frequently asked questions
Is Star, Idaho tap water safe to drink?
Why does my Star water smell like rotten eggs?
How hard is Star water?
Who supplies water in Star?
Sources
- Star Sewer & Water District 2025 Consumer Confidence Report
- Star Sewer & Water District FAQ
- Star Sewer & Water District, about us
- EWG Tap Water Database, Star Sewer & Water District (ID4010220)
- EPA ECHO violations, Star Sewer & Water District (ID4010220)
- Idaho DEQ, private well sampling event in Star (September 3, 2025)
- Central District Health, well water quality
Honest Water Boise is not affiliated with any utility, Idaho agency or EWG. This guide summarizes public reports for general information and does not replace your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report or a lab test of your own water.
