A peer review shows predicting the sustainability of large withdrawals from the Wabash River’s alluvial aquifers was beyond the scope of a state study managed by Intera Incorporated. Recognizing the need for transparency and accountability, the Greater Lafayette Water Stewardship Committee commissioned an independent review conducted by hydrologists and engineers from Haley & Aldrich, a Boston environmental and engineering consultancy.
The Haley & Aldrich review included interviews with Intera’s project leaders, which revealed the study’s limited scope. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) publicly suggested the goal of the Intera study was to analyze the scale of water availability in Tippecanoe County and assess possible impacts on Greater Lafayette’s water supply.
“The peer review revealed the Intera study did not focus on those potential long-term impacts,” said Lafayette Mayor and member of the Greater Lafayette Region Water Stewardship Committee (GLRWSC), Tony Roswarski. “It also showed that Intera’s study was insuficient to evaluate how much water could be transferred without causing future challenges in Greater Lafayette because that was not one of its objectives.”
In early 2023, statewide media quoted IEDC officials suggesting a potential need to withdraw up to 100 million gallons per day (gpd) from the Wabash River alluvial aquifers to support companies that may choose to locate in the LEAP Innovation District in Lebanon, Indiana. Intera drilled three test wells just west of Lafayette in Tippecanoe County. Each test well pumped 2 million gallons per day over three days.
The disclosure that the IEDC had engineers investigating the feasibility and cost of building a pipeline to transport water from the Wabash aquifers to LEAP in Boone County caused public concern. West Lafayette Mayor and stewardship committee member Erin Easter said, “The peer review revealed that there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure local leaders and state lawmakers have the data required to make smart, informed decisions regarding our water resources and their ability to meet the region’s future water needs.”
Moving groundwater from one watershed to another is currently unregulated in Indiana. Public concerns and calls for safeguards by local citizens and governmental leaders prompted Indiana Governor Eric E. Holcomb and legislative leaders to ask the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) to conduct a broader assessment of the region and the state’s future water needs.
“We have a responsibility to ensure our region’s water supply is protected for our constituents, our businesses, and the future of our growing economy,” said Tippecanoe County Commissioner Tom Murtaugh. “This peer review provided valuable insights into what was and wasn’t included in the Intera study. We owe it to the next generation to ensure we get it right.”
IFA is currently studying the North Central and the Wabash Headwaters regions. Both studies include portions of Tippecanoe County and should be completed by the end of the year. The Intera pump test data and information provided by the regional water utilities are being considered for inclusion in the report. Legislation that would govern water transfers between regions was tabled during the 2024 state legislative session and is currently under review.