Twin Falls Asks Residents to Conserve Water After Canal Deliveries Cut by a Third
The City of Twin Falls is calling on residents served by pressurized irrigation systems to reduce their outdoor water use following a significant decrease in canal water deliveries driven by persistent drought conditions across southern Idaho.
The Twin Falls Canal Company announced a reduction in delivery levels from 5/8 miner’s inch per share to 1/2 miner’s inch, effective Thursday, May 28 — a cut of roughly 33 percent from full water rights. City officials noted this marks the third water curtailment of this kind in the past five years, underscoring a troubling pattern of dwindling water supplies in the region.
Conservation Rules Now More Critical, City Says
Rob Bohling, the city’s water superintendent, warned that the latest reductions put additional strain on the entire distribution system. “Watering outside assigned schedules or during peak demand times impacts your neighbors and the reliability of the entire system,” Bohling said in a statement released by the city.
To manage demand, Twin Falls uses an address-based watering schedule: residents at even-numbered addresses may water on even-numbered calendar dates, while those at odd-numbered addresses water on odd-numbered dates. City officials are also asking residents to shift outdoor watering to midday hours, when system-wide demand is lower, to help sustain adequate water pressure across subdivisions.
Customers can check real-time pump demand data for their subdivision at TFID.org.
Enforcement and the Bigger Picture
Twin Falls Code Enforcement will continue outreach on conservation requirements. Residents who fail to follow watering guidelines may initially receive warnings, though repeated violations could result in fines.
City officials highlighted that the pressurized irrigation network — which delivers untreated canal water for lawn and landscape use — offsets nearly 5 million gallons per day that would otherwise be drawn from the aquifer. That separation between outdoor irrigation and the municipal drinking water supply is a critical component of the city’s long-term water management strategy. Residents are reminded that pressurized irrigation water is not treated and is unsafe for drinking or other household uses.
The conservation push comes as Twin Falls and other Magic Valley communities continue to grapple with the long-term effects of regional drought. City leaders have also been working on broader water quality initiatives, including a Rock Creek water quality master plan that addresses the health of local waterways and water infrastructure planning.
Residents with questions about the irrigation system or conservation requirements can contact Twin Falls Utility Services at 208-736-2275 or visit the city’s official website for additional guidance.
What Comes Next
Canal company officials and city water managers will continue monitoring delivery levels as the summer irrigation season progresses. If drought conditions worsen, further reductions beyond the current 33 percent cut remain possible. Residents are encouraged to follow their assigned watering schedules closely and check TFID.org for updated pump and demand information as conditions change.