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District 3 asked to discontinue vehicle washing

District 3 discontinued on-site washings of vehicles and equipment at its site in Garden City and shifted those cleaning operations to its Orchard shed. The change came after recent notification by Garden City officials that washings violated city ordinances because they result in runoff that enters the Boise River untreated.

There are two washing facilities that are temporarily off limits – one is by the Paint Shop and the other is between the Boise Maintenance and Special Crew buildings.

The district is looking into the needed permits and feasibility of building a new equipment washing facility at the District 3 yard that would enable the water to be captured and treated.

Will this same issue arise again in another ITD location?

Probably, said District 3 Assistant Maintenance Engineer Dan Bryant. "This was an edict handed to us by Garden City so it may vary from city to city.

"According to the Garden City inspector, the requirements come from DEQ, so it probably is only a matter of time before any facilities located within a municipality come under the gun.”