By Associated Press - Wednesday, February 13, 2019

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Legislation that would allow a well driller who hits geothermal water to use that water for uses other than its heat value in some cases has cleared the House.

The 68-0 vote on Wednesday sends the legislation to the Senate.

Republican Terry Gestrin of Donnelly told lawmakers that if a well driller hits water higher than 85 degrees at the bottom, then the well falls into a geothermal category and must be sealed if not used for its heat.

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The legislation would allow the director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources to allow an exemption in some instances.

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