Mountain Home AFB celebrates opening of water treatment plant
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho — Mountain Home Air Force Base marked a major milestone in its long-term water resilience efforts Oct. 29, 2026, with the opening ceremony of a new water treatment plant and pump station designed to help address declining groundwater levels.
Led by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, the $131 million project aims to establish a reliable, sustainable water supply for the installation, supporting long-term water security for Airmen, their families and mission operations.
“Water security is a primary concern here in Idaho and is directly tied to national security,” said Col. Ray Gunter, 366th Fighter Wing commander. “Without resilient infrastructure, we cannot execute the mission. This water treatment facility guarantees that the Gunfighters can train and execute their mission for years to come.”
The installation previously relied on two on-base wells that drew groundwater from the local aquifer in the city of Mountain Home. The new treatment plant is designed to provide a reliable water supply for more than 4,500 base residents while supporting long-term mission readiness.
Initially beginning in 2014, the project includes a 28,000-square-foot treatment plant and pump station connected to the Snake River water system by a 14.4-mile pipeline. The Idaho Water Resource Board secured water rights from C.J. Strike Reservoir and constructed the pipeline, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District provided design oversight, contracting, environmental support and construction oversight on behalf of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center.
“Today is a testament to what effective military construction and project delivery look like,” said Maj. Joseph O’Donnell, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District deputy commander. “It’s bringing together the right engineering expertise, partnerships and people to solve a complex infrastructure challenge.”
The project required collaboration among AFCEC, the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron, the Idaho Department of Water Resources, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, USACE teams and industry partners. This coordinated effort helped bring the project from its initial planning stages to completion.
“Achievements on this scale do not happen overnight,” Gunter said. “Over the past 12 years, civic leaders, state officials, base commanders, civil engineers and community advocates have reached across agency lines to make this day possible.”
Funded through the Department of War’s Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program, the water treatment plant will help protect the installation from future water shortages and reduce risks to daily operations. ERCIP supports projects that improve the resilience, security, sustainability of energy and water systems at military installations, helping ensure they can continue meeting mission requirements.
The water treatment plant's launch serves as a reminder of the value of long-term collaborations and infrastructure investments in safeguarding the resources required to support military operations. The project creates a more sustainable water supply for the installation and strengthens its capacity to meet national defense priorities through ongoing cooperation between Mountain Home AFB and its federal, state and local partners.
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