Public Meeting Date Set to Discuss LEAP Project Impacts
The FIRST public meeting date featuring comments from Citizens Energy Group and Lebanon Utilities has been set to discuss the LEAP project’s potential impact on Eagle Creek Reservoir. Hosted by Protect Pike Township, the meeting will be held January 26 at the Pike Performing Arts Center from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm and will include representatives from Citizens Energy Group (CEG) as well as leaders from the Lebanon Utilities, who are responsible for treating the LEAP wastewater and discharging it into Eagle Creek.
Elected officials are also expected to attend. While the agenda is still being determined, Q&A is expected. Please share this information with your neighbors and interested friends. NOTE: venue changed from prior location! Registration not required, but you can register here.
Discussion with Citizens Energy and Lebanon Utilities:
We are grateful to both Lebanon Utilities and Citizens (CEG) for a recent two-hour meeting with the Eagle Creek Park Advisory Committee to share their current plans (more detailed below) and to respond to additional questions. The discussion confirmed that Lebanon Utilities plans to discharge treated wastewater to Eagle Creek, just west of the Lafayette Road bridge next to I-65. The proposed location would discharge more than 100 million gallons of wastewater weekly (15 million gallons per day on average, up to 25 mgd peak flow) via a new 48-inch pipe directly into the mouth of the reservoir. Conversations are currently underway between Lebanon Utilities and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management regarding permit limits which would govern what is in the treated discharge.
It is extremely uncommon in Indiana for a wastewater plant to discharge its effluent directly into a reservoir like Eagle Creek that supplies drinking water. While such discharges may happen in water-challenged states out west, the Advisory Committee has asked the utility to identify other Indiana locations where it may occur, especially where the discharge is so substantial.
Key takeaways from the meeting include:
- Citizens Energy Group (CEG) reemphasized their plan to transport drinking water to LEAP, up to 25 million gallons per day, which would be supplied by the overall Indianapolis water system.
- They currently estimate an additional 1-3 million gallons per day (MGD) would be withdrawn from Eagle Creek Reservoir and processed by the TW Moses facility on West 56th Street, with the remaining additional water sourced from other Indy-area water supplies.
- While the original demands for LEAP project water supplies all quoted 100 mgd would be needed, CEG stated the loss of an anticipated data chip manufacturer has lowered the necessary water forecast to 25 mgd; (however, at least six other LEAP business tenants have not been named.)
- Wastewater utility representatives focused on the expansion of the Lebanon wastewater system to process used water from the LEAP project, which will be managed and constructed by the Lebanon Utilities department.
- A series of phased expansions for the wastewater plant will grow the facility from a daily treatment average of 5 mgd to an average of 20 mgd by 2031.
- While the plant currently discharges 5 mgd of effluent (treated wastewater) to Prairie Creek in the Wabash River basin, the newly expanded plant would discharge its additional treated flow, averaging 15 mgd, directly to Eagle Creek. Prairie Creek is not large enough to accept and dilute the additional flow from LEAP, so they need to send it somewhere else.
- Current plans indicate that wastewater flows into Eagle Creek will be approximately 10 mdg during the initial phase of the project. As the LEAP project advances, discharge volumes are expected to increase gradually, reaching an average of 15-20 mgd by 2031, with a peak discharge to Eagle Creek of 25 mgd.
- The discharge would travel via a new large 48” pipe from the Lebanon wastewater facility (exact route currently unknown but initially proposed down Indianapolis Road/Lafayette Road) to Eagle Creek beside the City’s Tox Drop Center.
- Because of the distance of transport, the treated wastewater will be disinfected a second time at the outfall point by ultraviolet light before being discharged into Eagle Creek.
- Wastewater discharges and aquatic treatments are regulated by:
- Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
- Operating data for the wastewater plant are collected multiple times daily, with monthly reporting to the state.
- LEAP businesses must meet IDEM pretreatment limits before their wastewater is discharged to a Lebanon sewer, where it will then be transported and treated at the Lebanon plant and then discharged to Eagle Creek. Advanced biological, chemical, and ultraviolet treatment are planned.
- Costs for the Lebanon wastewater treatment plant expansion, sewer lines and discharge pipe will by funded by the State Revolving Loan Fund, with the loans backed by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. LEAP businesses will be expected to repay the infrastructure costs.
Current concerns of the Advisory Committee
While we are still digesting the newly shared information, initial takeaways include the following concerns:
- Questions remain regarding wastewater discharge locations, baseline data for the reservoir capacity, changes from previously stated plans, and long-term ecological impacts on Eagle Creek Reservoir.
- Additional assessment of potential discharge locations (or multiple locations) should be considered. While Citizens plans to withdraw an additional 1-3 mgd from the reservoir to send to the LEAP water supply, the existing plan routes ALL of the LEAP project wastewater back to Eagle Creek, despite the alleged plan to pull the source water from across the Indy Water system. Why should the reservoir be penalized and forced to receive all of the returning wastewater? Why is it not returned to the broader White River watershed for balanced replenishment, if indeed water sourcing for LEAP comes from across the Indy water system?
- LEAP businesses may generate complex and potentially toxic wastewater requiring advanced treatment. At least six vacant tenant spots remain, meaning we don’t yet know what may be discharged. Stringent pretreatment permits must be required for businesses.
- Contaminants of concern (e.g., PFAS, pharmaceuticals, hormones) may not be routinely monitored, creating data gaps and posing a risk for the ecosystem. While trace amounts may be permitted in the discharge, the reservoir’s still body of water may likely result in a buildup of contaminants over time in the silted bottom which could affect aquatic organisms, fish, birds and potentially fish for human consumption.
- If increased phosphorus and nitrogen inputs occur, it could worsen the existing blue-green algae blooms, leading to higher chemical water treatment needs and potentially ratepayer costs. For those engaging in water contact activities, high blue green algae counts can cause skin irritation on contact, sicken pets who drink the water, and contribute to the seasonal earthy musty smell of water treated by the Moses facility (which is still safe for consumption.)
- Lack of current environmental data remains - the Committee emphasized the need for a bathymetric study of Eagle Creek - like recent similar studies of Geist & Morse- to determine reservoir capacity and rates of infill by sediment. The Committee recently sent a letter to state and local officials encouraging an environmental study by the US Geological Society (USGS) to provide a baseline evaluation of the reservoir prior to any changes, and to determine its existing capacity.
- Lingering wastewater odors, particularly during low flow stream periods, may negatively impact park users, national sporting events site selections, and nearby neighborhoods and property values.
- Questions remain regarding dam operations and potential flooding issues in the area, due to increased inflows from the wastewater, during storm events.
- Risk Mitigation: Despite net inflow gains to the reservoir and stringent wastewater treatment guidelines, concerns remain about system vulnerabilities, mitigating risks and the limited recovery capacity of reservoir compared to flowing rivers in the event of contamination. (e.g. the1999 Guide spill into White River which killed 4.5 million fish and impacted the river for nearly 20 years)
- Withdrawal Contract: A copy of the existing water withdrawal contract between the City and Citizens has yet to be provided. The 50-year contract expires in 2026 and the proposed new contract will inform us of just how much water Citizens may withdraw. According to the City, media have stated the current limit is 19.8 mgd. If the new limit stretches beyond the 1-3 mgd necessary for LEAP, plus 1 mgd for CEG’s self-projected increase for future community growth, suspicion regarding the true future intent of actual water withdrawal will remain.
Conclusions:
The Advisory Committee is evaluating the new information provided and will continue to press for alternative discharge sites, as well as investigate more environmentally friendly water usage recommendations for LEAP, such as a closed loop water system for the META facility, which could save both on water demand and water discharge. Has recycling water onsite for the project been considered, instead of large infrastructure conveyance to and from the project location? We believe a more environmentally sensitive usage program may be possible and are conveying to state officials.
We will continue to monitor public input opportunities. IDEM will open a public comment period once Lebanon has actually filed its discharge permit application for the wastewater outfall. CEG noted that a future public hearing would also be held to evaluate the state anti-degradation rules, which require that a new discharge cannot make the receiving stream more degraded once the new discharge is added to the receiving stream. Volunteers to monitor IDEM permitting and Indiana Finance Authority websites are welcome sets of extra eyes to watch for related postings and activities.
Other news and updates:
- State Representative Renee Pack hosted a public meeting on December 29 and was also joined by several other state and local elected officials interested in learning more about the water issues, the park and the proposed plans. More than 200 people gathered at the North Wayne Township Elementary School on a snowy night to discuss the overall project. Media coverage included:
Residents voice concerns over Boone County project at Eagle Creek Reservoir, WRTV, 12-30-25
Neighbors attend LEAP district town hall | wthr.com, WTHR, 12-30-25
- Thank you to all who sent letter to the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) to share concerns over funding for the LEAP water-related projects, in the absence of greater public awareness. Special thanks to Sen. J.D. Ford, Sen. Fady Qaddoura, Rep. Renee Pack, Rep. Cherish Pryor and Rep. Vanessa Summers for their letter on the same topic to IFA. Thank you elected officials!
- Support from Audubon! THANK YOU to the Amos Butler local chapter and now to the state chapter for becoming more engaged! Please share this link on social media and with your friends!
Protect Eagle Creek’s Mudflats, Protect Our Birds – Indiana Audubon
- Our city county council is now fully and publicly engaged -- which is a testament to all of the hard work and letter writing that has been occurring -- thank you!!!
Citizens owes Indianapolis answers on LEAP water plan | Letters, Indianapolis Star, 1-15-26
- Speedway elected officials have been put on notice by their constituents and issued a recent press release (following several social media posts) that they know nothing regarding any proposed changes, have asked questions of Citizens, and are still waiting for answers. Facebook (you can click on the link and should be able to read the post even if you're not on Facebook)
- LOCATION UPDATED: Elected officials and event organizers have moved the January 26 meeting to a larger venue at the Pike Performing Arts Center, in response to feedback whereby they are anticipating an even bigger crowd -- again, due to calls, letters and emails received. The session will start at 7 pm, with doors opening at 6:30 pm.
- Park neighbor Rachel Wolverton's change.org petition now has more than 13,000 supportive signatures! Go Rachel! Please share its link as well with your networks!
Change.org - Results page
- Another Eagle Creek Park article will soon be published in the Indy Star. Their team spent a couple of hours at the park on Wednesday to better understand the potential impacts and concerns of park users and neighbors. Previous articles have included:
Supplying water to LEAP district may cost $1B. Who will foot the bill? – Blue Water Healthy Living
Supportive Actions YOU Can Take!
- Continue to write letters of concern to our elected officials (state and local). Thank you to everyone who has already communicated and helped to convince many of them to join in the request for greater transparency and formal environmental assessments and reviews. Your voice matters!
- Current top concerns: 1) move the primary discharge of wastewater from the mouth of the reservoir 2) limit additional CEG future withdrawals of water from the reservoir 3) consider more environmentally sensitive water usage technology onsite at LEAP to minimize water needs
- Direct your specific questions to Citizens Energy Group (CLWSP@citizensenergygroup.com) and Lebanon Utilities (WastewaterProjects@LebanonUtilities.com).
- Sign the petition at change.org. Park neighbor Rachel Wolverton’s petition continues to gather steam and has nearly 13,000 signatures in support of protecting the park.
- Attend the meeting on January 26 at Pike Performing Arts Center at Pike High School.
- Share and comment on local media stories online and via social media. Engagement drives coverage.
- Google “Guide Fish Kill, White River” to better understand why we strongly believe risk mitigation is so important for wastewater discharge into a lake/reservoir, rather than a moving stream.
- Attend an upcoming webinar on January 21 sponsored by Purdue and several local environmental organizations to learn more about data centers impacts on Indiana water resources and grid demands. (Meta is one of the two confirmed tenants at LEAP)
- Follow Protect Pike Township and Eagle Creek Park Foundation on social media.
Resource Reminder:
Citizens Energy Group: information on the water project may be found at CLWSP
Specific questions may be directed to CLWSP@citizensenergygroup.com.
Lebanon Utilities: Lebanon Utilities | Lebanon Utilities - Lebanon Indiana
Specific questions may be directed to: wastewaterProjects@LebanonUtilities.com
Eagle Creek Park Advisory Committee: Leap@eaglecreekpark.org to communicate with us the regarding ongoing news and activities.
Mark your calendars:
Public Meeting with CEG & Lebanon Utilities
Monday, January 26, 2026
Pike Performing Arts Center
6701 Zionsville Road
7 pm -8:30 pm
Doors open at 6:30 pm
More details available soon
Thanks again to EVERYONE for your continued engagement and support!!!! Your voices ARE being heard and elected officials are engaging to address our concerns about the park. We must continue to Protect Eagle Creek Park!
