October 21, 2025
Contact: MaryAnna Peavey, Grants and Loans Bureau Chief, MaryAnna.Peavey@deq.idaho.gov
BOISE – The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) today awarded an $869,000 low-interest drinking water construction loan to the Birch Creek Culinary Water Company in Franklin County, Idaho.
The funding will be used to address transmission issues, install water meters, improve the storage tank, and add a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system.
DEQ is authorized by state law to make loans that assist in the construction of public drinking water systems. Since the annual cost of drinking water service for residential customers exceeds 1.5% of the median household income, the Birch Creek Culinary Water Company qualifies for a disadvantaged loan, which carries favorable repayment terms.
The loan from DEQ’s State Revolving Loan Fund, which is capitalized annually by grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, carries a simple 2% interest rate, is payable over 30 years, and has $869,000 in principal forgiveness. The favorable loan terms represent a $1,654,386 savings to the community when compared to average costs for municipal general obligation debt issuances.