Indiana water study released, prompting response from Farm Bureau

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indianapolis, Indiana, released its follow-up to a decade-old water supply study, revealing that while Indiana boasts a strong water supply, the distribution of this vital resource remains uneven across the state.  

The study, titled Water Policy and Planning: A 10-Year Update, was released through the Indiana Chamber Foundation and lays the groundwork for a comprehensive water management plan as part of the Chamber’s Indiana Prosperity 2035 visioning initiative. 

According to the study, prepared by Intera Inc., Indiana’s water resources are plentiful in the northern regions, where local groundwater and streams are readily available. However, central Indiana faces more complex challenges due to its reliance on a mix of reservoirs, rivers and well fields, while southern Indiana has long depended on regional water systems for growth and development.  

The report highlights the importance of planning for future demand, particularly as new industrial developments may increase the need for water in certain regions. 

The Indiana Farm Bureau responded to the findings study with Andy Tauer, executive director of public policy, highlighting concerns about water distribution, particularly in the southern third of the state. According to reporting by Hoosier Ag Today’s Andy Eubank, Tauer emphasized the importance of statewide water management planning and additional monitoring to assess the true volume of Indiana’s water resources. He also expressed reservations about the report’s claim that agricultural irrigation accounts for 23% of the state’s average daily groundwater use, noting that irrigation wells are typically seasonal. 

“Those numbers are something we’ll continue to have conversation about with the folks who put the report together and folks at DNR who track the high volume, high capacity wells and see if we can start to pull that that information apart. So that’s where we’ve got a little bit of concern,” Tauer told Hoosier Ag Today. 

Jack Wittman, project leader and vice president at Intera, stressed the need for forward-thinking strategies to manage potential high-demand scenarios. “We have to understand what the effects of high demand for water might be in different basins,” says Wittman. 

The Indiana Chamber has already engaged with key lawmakers and local officials to share the study’s findings and collaborate on shaping policy for the 2025 legislative session. The organization plans to use this research to inform the development of a living state water plan.