Indiana has a big problem when it comes to water resources, according to a new report. The Indiana Finance Authority’s (IFA’s) report on Indiana’s aging water infrastructure was conducted as a result of legislation drafted last year by Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso.
It required the IFA to determine the scope and scale of the state’s infrastructure needs and to evaluate the problem of non-revenue water loss.
The report found that non-revenue water amounts to over 50 billion gallons per year in Indiana and costs Hoosiers over $54 million per year. It’s the difference between the volume of water entering a water distribution system and the volume of consumption billed to consumers.
Also, according to the report, too many pipes in Indiana are nearing or at the end of their useful life.
Average non-revenue water as a percent of the water supplied ranges from 12 to 24 percent of water supplied for each utility and does not vary significantly with utility size, according to the findings.
Additionally some utilities reported having service connection lines that are comprised of lead.
According to Charbonneau, the IFA estimates immediate infrastructure costs at $2.3 billion with an additional $815 million needed annually to maintain the utilities for the future.
He says this information will serve as the foundation for discussions during the 2017 legislative session as lawmakers seek ways to protect customers, ensure the health and safety of every Hoosier and protect an asset that is critical to the state’s economic well-being.
The full report can be found under the news section on the IFA’s website, www.in.gov/ifa.
