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Why It Matters
Residents, visitors, and businesses in the Island Park area of eastern Idaho are being urged to take immediate precautions after state environmental officials discovered bacterial contamination in private wells. The advisory affects one of Idaho’s popular recreation corridors near Yellowstone, where summer tourism is at its peak.
What Happened
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality issued a boil water advisory for private well owners along Big Springs Avenue in Island Park following on-site evaluations and water sampling that turned up E. coli bacteria in multiple wells. The affected area is centered near Mack’s Inn and the Springhill Suites property.
Anyone drawing water from a private well in the area is advised to boil it for a minimum of one minute before drinking, cooking, or any other consumption — or to use bottled water instead. The advisory remains in effect until DEQ confirms through follow-up sampling that the contamination has cleared.
E. coli is a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems, young children, and the elderly, as exposure can cause serious illness.
Which Systems Are Affected
Beyond private wells, two public water systems in the area are already under formal boil orders: the Big 12 Water Association and the Yellowstone RV Park at Mack’s Inn, both due to confirmed E. coli contamination.
Four public water systems are currently undergoing testing: Mack’s Inn/Springhill Suites, Big 12 Water Association, Yellowstone RV Park at Mack’s Inn, and Thompson Well. As of the advisory, Mack’s Inn/Springhill Suites and Thompson Well are not under a boil order, though testing is ongoing.
DEQ is also encouraging private well owners throughout the area to have their wells independently tested for bacteria.
What’s Next
DEQ has not announced a timeline for lifting the advisory. Officials say the order will be rescinded once additional water samples consistently show the contamination has been resolved in the affected zone. Well owners and businesses should continue monitoring DEQ communications for updates before returning to normal water use.
The Island Park area, a gateway community to Yellowstone National Park, draws heavy visitor traffic during summer months, making the advisory particularly timely. Travelers staying in the area on private well-supplied properties should confirm their water source and take appropriate precautions.
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