DEFINITIONS
Boise City Code § 1-17-5
in effect1-17-5: DEFINITIONS:
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words, and derivations shall have the meanings given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future tense, words in the plural number include the singular number and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory. Words used throughout this chapter, but not defined herein, shall have their plain, ordinary, and common meaning. Words in any gender shall apply to the feminine, masculine, and neuter genders.
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES: Potable water use for any business, industrial, institutional, or nonprofit enterprise that is not for direct human consumption, culinary purposes, or sanitation. Business enterprises shall include, but are not limited to, hotels, motels, assisted living facilities, retirement facilities, schools, shelter homes, churches, and nonresidential condominium units.
DOMESTIC PURPOSES: The use of potable water for direct human consumption, culinary purposes, and sanitation. For purposes of this chapter, domestic purposes do not include residential landscape irrigation and lawn watering; individual residential car washes or other spray washing; privately-owned swimming pool or hot tub maintenance; other recreational or aesthetic purposes as defined below; or other uses that are not for direct human consumption, culinary purposes, or sanitation.
DROUGHT: A prolonged period of an absence or deficiency of precipitation, resulting in some form of a water shortage or serious hydrological imbalance in the city of Boise City.
DROUGHT EMERGENCY: A foreseeable, imminent, or present threat of drought, or related environmental condition, which does or may cause adverse impacts on people, animals, or vegetation of Boise City, including agriculture, social and economic activities, or natural ecosystems.
EMERGENCY DROUGHT RESPONSE ORDER: An advisory or mandatory order enacted by the Mayor to reduce or cease the use of potable water for nonessential and/or discretionary commercial, irrigation, and/or recreational and aesthetic purposes to preserve the quantity and quality of such water and prioritize its use for domestic and necessary commercial purposes.
IRRIGATION PURPOSES: The use of potable water for lawns, gardens, pastures, parks, greenbelts, golf courses and open space. For purposes of this chapter, irrigation purposes for gardens or pastures used to grow food or support domesticated animals to produce food or other commodities are exempt from any emergency drought response order.
NONPOTABLE WATER: Water that does not conform to drinking water quality standards, which may include but is not limited to surface water and recycled water.
PERSON: Any individual, joint venture, partnership, firm, corporation, association, club or organized group, trust, estate, governmental entity or any other legal entity, or their legal representatives, agents, or assigns.
POTABLE WATER: Water which conforms to drinking water quality standards; may also be referred to as drinking water.
RECREATIONAL AND AESTHETIC PURPOSES: The use of potable water for: privately-owned swimming pools or hot tubs; water fountains or features that do not support any aquatic life whether privately, commercially, or publicly owned; and individual use of hoses or sprinklers for leisure or optional activities, including noncommercial carwashes or spray washing of structures, sidewalks, or other equipment or materials (but excluding any irrigation purposes). (Ord. 28-26, 6-30-2026)
Source: Boise City, Idaho, City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/boise_id/latest/boise/0-0-0-89822Fetched: 11/1/2026