Indy councilors back residents on Eagle Creek Reservoir water deals

Indianapolis City-County Council members, with bipartisan support, have backed local residents' calls for greater water protections and transparency regarding a controversial water deal. The action follows efforts by thousands of city residents, including Lou Ann Baker of the Eagle Creek Park Advisory Committee, to highlight the implications of the agreement. The deal involves transferring up to 25 million gallons of water per day from Indianapolis's Eagle Creek Reservoir to Lebanon Utilities in Boone County by 2031. This water is intended for use in the LEAP district, a significant economic development area known for its data center development. While Lebanon Utilities General Manager Ed Basquill asserts that the treated water returned to the reservoir will meet or exceed state quality standards, residents and councilors remain concerned about the large-scale transfer's potential long-term impacts on the reservoir and surrounding environment.