Idaho DEQ Opens Public Comment Period on Geothermal Plant Water Reuse Permit in Malta
Why It Matters
Idaho residents and landowners near Malta have an opportunity to weigh in on how a local geothermal power facility manages its industrial water output. The permitting process directly affects land and groundwater in the region, making public participation an important part of environmental oversight.
What Happened
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is accepting public comments on a draft renewal of a recycled water reuse permit for Raft River Energy 1, LLC, which operates a binary cycle geothermal power plant in Malta, in southern Idaho’s Cassia County. The comment window runs from May 28 through June 18, 2026.
The company is seeking to renew its authorization to apply roughly 100 million gallons of treated industrial water per year to two land management units and a rapid infiltration basin. This type of land application is a standard practice for facilities that generate process water as a byproduct of power generation operations.
The draft permit sets out monitoring requirements along with limits on nutrient and hydraulic loading to ensure the water application does not pose risks to public health or the surrounding environment. The facility was also required to demonstrate that continued operation would not create environmental or health concerns.
By the Numbers
- ~100 million gallons of industrial recycled water proposed for land application annually
- 2 land management units plus one rapid infiltration basin included in the reuse plan
- June 18, 2026 at 5 p.m. MT — deadline for written public comments
- Permit number: I-210-03 (draft renewal)
How to Comment
Residents may submit written comments by email to Kevin Kruger at Kevin.kruger@deq.idaho.gov, by mail to DEQ’s Twin Falls regional office at 650 Addison Avenue West, Suite 110, Twin Falls, ID 83301, or through the online submission form on DEQ’s website. The full draft permit and staff analysis are also available for review at DEQ’s State Office in Boise at 1410 N. Hilton St.
Zoom Out
Geothermal energy represents a growing segment of Idaho’s domestic power generation profile, with the Raft River area recognized as one of the more productive geothermal zones in the Pacific Northwest. Responsible management of byproduct water is a key regulatory concern as the state works to balance energy development with environmental protection. For context on how Idaho’s energy sector is evolving, see recent coverage of the transformation of Idaho’s historic EBR-II facility into the nation’s first microreactor test bed.
What’s Next
DEQ staff will review all comments submitted before the June 18 deadline and consider them as part of the final permitting decision. Individuals needing language access services or disability accommodations related to permit documents may contact DEQ’s nondiscrimination coordinator at (208) 373-0271 or accessibility@deq.idaho.gov at no charge.
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