Indiana water‑conservation groups and local leaders are welcoming Lebanon Utilities’ latest proposal to discharge treated wastewater from the LEAP district into Prairie Creek rather than Eagle Creek. The move follows concerns that releasing additional flow into Eagle Creek could harm the fish and bird populations that rely on the Eagle Creek Reservoir and the adjoining park.
Why Prairie Creek?
Prairie Creek, a tributary that eventually joins Sugar Creek in west‑central Indiana, is being studied as a potential discharge point for the new treatment plant that will serve the LEAP district’s expanding industrial base, including Meta’s $10 billion hyperscale data‑center campus and Eli Lilly’s $4.5 billion Lilly Medicine Foundry.
“That’s good news for the Eagle Creek Reservoir and good news for Eagle Creek Park,” said Lou Ann Baker, a member of the Eagle Creek Park Advisory Committee. Baker emphasized the importance of basing the final decision on solid science and transparent data.
Engineering review underway
Lebanon Utilities has commissioned the Boone County Surveyor’s Office to produce a draft report on how the additional water—approximately 1.9 inches of flow per year—would affect Prairie Creek’s flood dynamics, channel stability, and storage capacity. The study, prepared by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LLC, is being reviewed by Indianapolis‑based Wessler Engineering and BF&S Civil Engineers, firms already involved in the plant expansion.
Wastewater Operations Manager Ryan Ottinger explained at the September 23 Service Board meeting that the draft will undergo further input before a final recommendation is made. The utility expects the engineering review to take several months.
Community and regional impact
Citizens Energy Group, which will supply up to 25 million gallons of water per day to Lebanon Utilities by 2031, supports the Prairie Creek option. “While sustainable best practice traditionally favors returning wastewater to its specific watershed of origin, discharging to Prairie Creek would not impair Central Indiana water resources or Citizens Energy Group’s ability to provide drinking water now or in the future,” said Ben Easley, the group’s corporate and public‑affairs coordinator.
Local officials and residents have voiced strong support for keeping Eagle Creek Park free from additional wastewater. After earlier plans identified a discharge site within the park’s boundaries between Interstate 65 and Lafayette Road, pushback from Indianapolis officials and community members prompted Lebanon Utilities to issue a May 1 notice stating that the discharge will not occur within Eagle Creek Park limits.
Next steps
Lebanon Utilities must finalize its discharge location before construction of the new treatment plant, which could begin as early as 2028. The utility has not yet responded to requests for comment on the timeline.
Stakeholders, including conservation advocates, utility engineers, and regional water providers, are urging the utility to maintain transparency throughout the decision‑making process. “You’ve invested millions of dollars in studies, analysis and engineering. Surely you have a plan at this point, and surely you have confidence in that plan to be able to share it with the public,” Baker said.
The outcome will shape water‑resource management for the LEAP district and protect cherished natural assets like Eagle Creek Reservoir for Indiana families and wildlife alike.
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
