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What are the city's goals for improving our streams?
The city of Indianapolis is implementing a $1.7 billion (in 2004 dollars) plan, which will reduce raw sewage overflows into Indianapolis waterways from 45-80 times in a typical year to two to four times in a typical year. Even after the plan is fully implemented, some overflows will still occur during the largest storms, creating infrequent, limited periods when high stream flows and pollution levels will make waterways unsuitable for swimming and other full-body recreational use. The city's goals for improving water quality in Indianapolis streams include:
- Capturing overflows during all but the few largest storms during the year, when people are not likely to be in the streams,
- Stabilizing our streams to support fish and other aquatic wildlife, and
- Improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods by reducing odors and capturing the unsightly materials found in overflowing sewers.
Because water pollution has many causes, we need an integrated, watershed-wide effort to achieve our water quality goals. State and regional cooperation will be needed to resolve stormwater runoff and other difficult-to-control water pollution sources. Indianapolis wants to ensure that affordable investments in water pollution control will yield the greatest benefit possible for human health, the environment and the citizens who live in and downstream of Marion County.
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