The Water Crisis in Indiana
Having safe and reliable access to clean drinking water is something easily taken for granted by most Americans, but in reality, 2018 data showed that nearly 30 million Americans were consuming unsafe drinking water.
Indiana, along with other states and townships across the country, is facing severe problems with being able to provide reliable drinking water to its citizens. Our water is at risk from eroding pipes, failing septic systems, and inadequate treatment.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is the main body in charge of monitoring water quality across the state. IDEM estimates that the most significant issue with our water is inadequate treatment of human sewage. This problem stems from failing septic systems and sewage pipes that empty to tile drains, ditches, or streams. In addition to the role that IDEM plays in providing us with safe drinking water, CLC is also working on direct efforts towards improving water quality in our state.
CLC is currently researching ways to improve the state’s laws regarding septic inspections and drainage codes. With help from State Senator Shelli Yoder (D-Monroe) we have proposed new language to reform the state drainage code and to require septic inspections when residential property transfers ownership (time of transfer). Our clinic students are also involved, researching potential liability for counties should proposed language pass, though none is believed to be present.
Recently, Indiana’s water quality has been further degraded because of the state’s lack of resources to repair our septic systems. In addition to this, our water quality is significantly affected by climate change. The IndyStar writes about how climate change and rising temperatures will have a negative effect not only on water quality, but quantity.
Climate change is causing the earth’s temperatures to rise. On a local level, Indiana is expected to have much hotter summers and experience more frequent and more extreme droughts.
It is predicted that Indiana’s population is going to continue to increase. Indianapolis, the largest city in the state, will need to adapt to this change and increase their infrastructure to handle this influx of residents. Citizens Energy Group expects it will need to increase water capacity from 250 million gallons per day to 350 million gallons per day in order to secure water in case of a drought.
To fight climate change, and adapt to rising temperatures, the central region of the state will be focusing on a plan to increase water storage. Citizens Reservoir is the first new reservoir in 60 years in Marion County. The 3.2-billion-gallon reservoir is positioned off of and will draw from the Geist Reservoir, which is 6.7 billion gallons.
Conservation practices, like using cover crops and no-till farming, help farmland absorb water — preventing erosion during heavy rains and reducing the need for irrigation in drought.
The drought-flood cycle is expected to become even more severe, posing complications for purifying drinking water. Heavy rains drag soil, chemicals and other contaminants into the lakes and rivers that serve as drinking water sources for many of Indiana’s largest cities. Evansville’s utility is considering an upgraded treatment plant that could combat algal blooming, but similar changes for other, smaller cities may come at a high price. Bloomington’s utilities director said an upgraded, ultraviolet-light-based treatment plant would cost around $10 million.
Water is a critical element for all life. At CLC, we continue to work to improve water quality throughout the state.
Learn how to monitor and test your individual water quality at this interactive website: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/31/us-drinking-water-contaminated-how-to-test
Sources:
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/drinking-water-climate-change-lead-first-nations-waukesha-pipeline/
https://www.hecweb.org/issues/water-wilderness/water-protection/
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/environment/2020/11/23/indiana-water-quality-how-climate-change-affect-water-supply/3753895001/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/31/us-drinking-water-contaminated-how-to-test