INTERA completed Phase I and Phase III of the Central Indiana Water Study to estimate the historic and future water demand and availability of water supplies in the Central Indiana Region, which is comprised of nine counties, centered around the City of Indianapolis. Phase I (IFA, 2020) presents an analysis of current water use in the region and projects water needs to the year 2070. Phase III (IFA, 2021) analyzes the current and projected future excess water availability that can be relied on to support economic and population growth in the region. The combined goal of both studies is to identify areas within the region where future demands may exceed available local supplies. The locations with gaps between availability and demand are mapped to suggest how new regional water supplies and conservation could meet future demands. Results show that estimates of future need for all water users in communities east and west of Indianapolis are likely to be satisfied by local groundwater resources. However, the sub‐basin water budgets on the north side of the planning region may exceed available local supplies between now and 2070. Given the projected increased seasonal demands and the available resources, INTERA recommended two categories of water-supply options to close the gap between existing resources and future demand: 1) alternatives to increase water availability, and 2) an alternative to decrease demand. In response to INTERA’s investigation, local utilities and counties are planning for the future and working to develop more sustainable and resilient water supplies.
