Rome burns while Ceasar fiddles, "The water crisis in Indiana"

While the 2022 legislative session wraps up in Indianapolis, our Indiana water quality crisis remains. "The Clean Water Act at 50" reports that the 24,000 miles of Indiana waterways unfit for swimming and water contact ranks us #1 in the nation. Our water resources are dangerous because they are contaminated with E. coli bacteria and potentially deadly algae (including blue-green cyanobacteria). The Indiana Department of Environmental Management identifies the source of most E. coli runoff is from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO). Excess fertilizer runoff containing nitrogen and phosphorous stimulates the growth of blue-green algae.

Our parks in Hendricks, Boone, Montgomery, and other suburban counties are not immune to this risk. Many residents enjoy access to flowing streams and children are seen playing in the water. A hidden danger comes from heavy rainfall. Upstream pollution from farm fields, combination storm/waste sewers, and industrial polluters can wash high concentrations of contaminants into our recreational waterways. Residents should check with their local water department to determine if it is safe for their children to play.

So, the looming question is: if not now, when? The problem is clear, but the Indiana legislature refuses to act. What political motivations are blocking Hoosier families' access to clean water? Fifty years after the Clean Water Act, Indiana is at the bottom of the heap.