Colfax is authorized to pump groundwater resources under water rights that total 1,384 acre-feet per year (451 million gallons). Most of our precipitation occurs between November and April with very little precipitation during the summer months. The City of Colfax and Glenwood area are drained by the Palouse River that, in turn, drains to the Snake river. The Glenwood and Clay Street Wells are within the valley of the north fork of the Palouse River that passes through Colfax. The Fairview Well is located on the valley wall above the south fork of the Palouse River that meets the north fork in Colfax. Spring floods have been a concern at the Glenwood Wellfield that was recently addressed by raising the elevation of the wellheads and the construction of protective reinforced concrete building.

Identification of the recharge areas for our groundwater and the land use in the area must be considered in wellhead protection. The most significant land use activity in Colfax is agriculture and those services that support the industry. The loess soils blown in off the retreating glaciers make dryland farming of winter and spring wheat, peas and lentils and other grains in this area highly productive. Irrigated farming does not occur in the vicinity of Colfax. Near the Glenwood Wellfield, land uses include dryland farming, rural residential, grain storage, pork and cattle production. Within the city limits near Fairview and Clay Street Wells, residential, light industrial and commercial activities occur.