Indiana’s supply of clean water is threatened by aging, leaking pipes. Meanwhile, deteriorating dams are a constant threat to both life and property. Legislation now pending in Congress would not only address these issues, but create desperately needed jobs in our state.

Here are a few examples that show the strain on Indiana's water systems:

• In 2009, there were 3.3 billion gallons of sanitary sewer overflows reported to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. 
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Indiana’s drinking water systems needs an investment of $5.9 billion over the next 20 years, and the state has nearly $7 billion in wastewater treatment needs. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, only 32 high-hazard dams have an emergency action plan in case of failure.  
• In Indiana, there are 279 high-hazard dams – those which threaten life and property – and 538 out of the state’s 1,088 dams are in need of rehabilitation to meet state safety standards. 
• After massive flooding in 2008, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspected 102 high-hazard dams and found that one had failed outright, while six others required emergency repairs.

Building Indiana so Indiana Works

• Investment in Indiana’s clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure could create 233,000 jobs over the next 20 years, according to the needs identified in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Watersheds Needs Survey and Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey.