U.S. Water News Online
BOISE, Idaho -- In what might constitute a trend in which
giant computer chip
manufacturers are hedging growth plans on the availability of
western
groundwater, residents of southeast Boise are concerned that a new
pipeline
serving Micron Technology Inc. might lower their well levels.
Construction
work is under way on the pipeline that will pump some 10 million
gallons a
day from two new wells.
Micron Technology has agreed to provide $7 million to United Water
Corp. to
build and maintain the pipeline "to ensure the supply of water to
Southeast
Boise and, of course, that does include Micron," said a company
spokesman.
The project has been approved by the city Public Utilities
Commission, while
the Idaho Department of Water Resources has the authority to shut
down the
pipeline if significant groundwater declines are recorded.
At public hearings conducted by the department, local residents
voice
concerns that the water supply project could have a disastrous effect
on
domestic wells. Adding to the worry over well drawdowns is an
apparent lack
of data on the volume of groundwater in the southwest Ada County
aquifer and
the unknown effects of massive well pumping in the area. Mentioned as
a case
in point at the hearings was a groundwater crisis being experienced
by
Albuquerque, N.M., where the computer-chip giant Intel is expanding
at the
expense of the Rio Grande Aquifer.
At its plant in southeast Boise, Micron Technology uses about 1.6
million
gallons of water a day to cool and clean silicon wafers that are cut
into
computer chips. The company reportedly recycles up to 40 percent of
this
supply, and has plans to recycle up to 90 percent within a few
years.
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