KSPS Public Television has joined with the Idaho Washington Aquifer Collaborative to help educate residents in the Inland Northwest about the importance of protecting their sole source of drinking water—the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.

6 Aquifer Video Lessons

These six videos provide an overview and exploration of the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie aquifer, its importance to the Inland Northwest, how it works, how it can be damaged, and simple actions residents can take to protect and preserve the water from the aquifer.  

Aquifer Comprehension & Discussion Questions. Standards

1. Overview: An overview of the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) aquifer.

2. How the Aquifer Works: Formed from a series of ice-age floods ten to twelve thousand years ago, the SVRP aquifer is made up of mixed sands, gravels, cobbles, and boulders, all of which provide a natural filtration system as the water flows through it.

3. Water Access: Residents access water from the SVRP aquifer from private wells or from public water providers.

4. Pollutants: The Idaho Washington Aquifer Collaborative (IWAC) works to maintain and enhance the water quality and quantity in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho by decreasing the number of pollutants to the SVRP aquifer.

5. Prevention Efforts: Local municipalities in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho have stepped up prevention efforts to protect the region’s aquifer.

6. Action Steps: Local residents can take simple steps in their daily lives to protect and preserve the region’s aquifer.