The new Dixie Drain Phosphorus Removal Facility does exactly what it says it does, it removes phosphorus from the Boise River.
The water is crystal clear after it goes through treatment, but before it was cloudy with phosphorus and other sediments.
Phosphorus in small doses is OK for the water supply, but if a river collects excess phosphorus from agricultural runoff, it makes it toxic for fish and really cloudy.
Boise Mayor Dave Bieter toured the new facility that is being called an innovative project. The EPA was initially skeptical about the drain, but after some consideration about the benefits it would have flowing into the Snake River, they decided to sign off on it.
EPA Administrator for Region 10, Dennis McLerran, says this project will hopefully inspire other projects like it in Idaho and across the country.
"The Boise River is a very important river in Idaho, but it also joins the Snake River and ultimately the Colombia River, so it's really important that these kinds of projects move forward to improve the water quality and make sure we are doing our job," said McLerran.
The Dixie Drain facility will remove up to 140 pounds of phosphorus a day, which adds up to about 25 tons a year.
The alternative to this project would have been to add new technology to the Boise Water Treatment Facility, but the city says this option was cheaper and will actually clean the water much better.