Schweitzer Utility & Water Company

Schweitzer Water Company is one of four domestic water systems in the Schweitzer Community. We own/operate two of those systems. Our primary system serves the Resort and Village plus the Crystal Springs Subdivision and residences on Northwest Passage down to the Schweitzer’s Vehicle Maintenance Shop. We also provide water service to the Sky House Restaurant on Schweitzer’s summit.

Our water supply comes from four ground water wells located on the mountain. Water is treated and stored in three concrete reservoirs (300,000 gallons total) and distributed to our customers via gravity flow through underground water mains.

Our second (and separate) water system serves the Ridge Development (Schweitzer Village Plat). This smaller system is currently supplied by two ground water wells that store water in a 200,000 gallon reservoir. Distribution is also via gravity flow through underground mains.

Both systems are designed to supply water not only for domestic use but also for fire flow in the event of a structure fire. Due to development demands, we are actively sourcing new water supply (wells) for both systems. We just commissioned a new well this winter for our primary system and plan to drill an additional well for the Ridge system in summer 2026.

Both of our water systems are regulated by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.

Schweitzer Basin Water (Mel Bailey 208-610-1768) is the other provider in the community and operates/manages the other two water systems outside of ours. They serve all residences below Schweitzer’s Vehicle Maintenance Shop and all residences (minus the Ridge Development) to the south of Schweitzer Mountain Road (including the Spires Development).

A Hydrant Use Permit is required for using the fire hydrant near the Gateway Parking lot. No other fire hydrants are permitted for use.

• $10 per day, non-refundable fee.
• Prior to your first fill up you will need to have your vehicle/tank inspected along with your connections and tools. You will also need to demonstrate that you understand how to use the hydrant safely and properly.
• Tools and connections not provided. See application for specs.
• Inspection and approvals can take up to 1 week so please plan ahead.
  
• More details in the application pdf below.

If you have questions please contact us!

Click here to download, fill out, and save the application: Hydrant Permit Application
Then email to muctrouble@schweitzer.com

Primarily a winter snow removal function, we maintain Schweitzer Mountain’s parking lots and travel routes as well as some residences in the community. Schweitzer Mountain Road is maintained by the Independent Highway District. The side (or sub) road snow removal is provided by private contractor retained by the Selkirk Recreation District which is a taxing district in the Schweitzer Community whose mandate is providing additional recreational opportunities and access.

We do pay attention to the drainage systems in the community as well as road damage issues so if you spot a problem, feel free to contact us and we’ll address the issue firsthand or engage the appropriate entity to respond.

Schweitzer Utility Company (SUC) provides sewer service to the entire Schweitzer Community. We collect the effluent from your septic tank via our sewer mains and transport it to large storage lagoons located about a mile below the resort. From there, the water is pumped out to approximately 70 acres of forested irrigation areas for absorption into the ground where it is consumed by the vegetation and trees. The process is quite a bit more complex. This is the 30,000 foot overview.

Because we only collect and treat the effluent (the liquid portion of your waste water – aka gray water) from your house, all dwellings are required to have a septic tank to collect and treat your solids (which are broken down through bacterial activity in your tank). Your septic tank and service line to our sewer main were designed, approved and installed during the construction of your home. SUC has a set of guidelines that dictate how this process works. With only a very few exceptions, all residences in the community have septic tanks. Your septic tank and the service line from your tank to our sewer main are your responsibility to maintain. Additionally, if your residence is below our sewer main, there will be a pressure pump that pumps the effluent from your tank up to our main. The pump chamber can either be inside your tank or a separate station located close by your tank. This also needs to be checked and cleaned periodically, generally done when you have your tank pumped (see below about tank pumping).

The most important thing to know about your septic tank is that it needs to be pumped periodically to avoid solids build up and potential blockage that can cause sewage to back up into your house. We recommend pumping your tank every 3-5 years if you are a full time resident. For seasonal use, every 6-8 years. These are guidelines and may vary depending on how your residence is used. The heavier the use, the more often you should inspect/pump your tank. If you do not know where (or if) you have a tank, you can contact us to see if we have drawings specific to your residence. In most cases we will.

If you do not have a record of when your tank was last pumped, we strongly recommend you get it pumped and start keeping a record. The pumping companies can inspect your tank as well and advise you of any potential maintenance requirements.

Septic tanks do a fairly good job of processing/digesting the solids that go into it from your house due to the bacterial activity that comes along with the solids and winds up residing/multiplying in your tank. The following page has some basic guidelines/tips for what not to put into your tank to maximize the bacterial activity. Schweitzer Utility Company muctrouble@schweitzer.com

Learn More About Septic Tank Maintenance