SANDPOINT - Expanding Sandpoint's water system boundaries has been, and will most likely continue to be, one of the most divisive topics the city will face in coming years.

For most, the issue boils down to growth. Where that growth takes place, and what form it assumes will greatly depend on where the water boundary ends up, according to several city officials.

Two recent City Council votes have put water on the forefront of many people's minds, but not everyone is aware of how the process of expansion works and what the effects of the growth could mean to residents.

In July 2007, the council voted 3-2 in favor of approving a new water system boundary policy that would set a standard to evaluate requests for boundary extensions.

Based on a point system that evaluates proximity to the current boundary, sewer system availability, road capacity, consistency with the future land use map and a mix of affordable housing, the policy requires a minimum score of 17 points in order for an applicant to become eligible for water boundary expansion.

If, based on the criteria, an applicant is judged to be a qualified candidate, the Public Works committee will review the application and offer a recommendation to the council, which has final say on the matter.

Among the many issues the council brought up in the recent decisions involving Seven Sisters and Providence Park subdivisions were whether expansion would reduce water quality and what, if any, added costs would be forced on current users.

Councilman Michael Boge, who voted against expanding the boundary, said he believes giving water to the new subdivisions will hurt Sandpoint's water quality. Public Works director Kody Van Dyk disagrees.

The city currently has two water treatment plants, with the lake water plant used only during the summer months. With expanded water boundaries and more water use, Boge and others are worried that the lake water plant will be used more extensively.

Van Dyk admits that water from the lake plant has a different smell and taste than water from the more widely used Sand Creek facility, but he said both sources are treated in the same way and the quality from both is well above what is federally mandated.

Depending on the year, Van Dyk said there is a two-three week period in the summer when Sandpoint's water system operates at 95 percent capacity, which has left some council members concerned that expanding the boundary would push water capacity over the limit.

Van Dyk said the issue of exceeding capacity due to the new subdivisions is moot, because Sandpoint is scheduled to triple capacity with upgrades to the lake treatment plant well before the subdivisions are ready to be hooked into the system.

He also points out that if capacity is reached, the city could ask for voluntary water restrictions or loosen its standards on water quality during the period of high usage.

Even without issues of water quality on the table, the financial ramifications of adding users outside of the current boundary has been a sticking point for council members who oppose expansion.

Councilwoman Carrie Logan voted against expansion at least in part because she said it would result in increased costs to other users, a claim that Boge echoed.

During February's council meeting, Providence Park developer Jeff Bond cited a report that suggested adding new users to the water system could lower rates to other users.

Van Dyk said expansion will not create lower water bill for users.