BizVoice July/August 2015

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22 BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – July/August 2015
In other words, we don’t want to be the
Midwest’s California, where the ongoing dire
situation reflects what can happen when states
put off planning and are caught unprepared.
And it’s about more than just sheer
water flow; water quality is also essential.
The good news is last year’s research
helped galvanize the Indiana Legislature’s
efforts and start the state on the road to
having a credible water resources plan, says
Sen. Ed Charbonneau of Valparaiso.
“It’s impossible to overstate the
importance of the water study done by the
Indiana Chamber. Without a doubt, it served
as the catalyst for what turned out to be a
very productive legislative session.”
Specifically, in the 2015 term, the
Indiana General Assembly passed two
important next-step pieces of legislation that
center around getting better data on what
water resources exist throughout the state.
Both were authored by Charbonneau.
One new law requires the Indiana
Department of National Resources (IDNR) to
establish a voluntary water monitoring system
of surface and ground water levels. This will
allow individuals and businesses with
monitoring wells to report that information
to IDNR, providing a more comprehensive
picture of the state’s water resources.
During the last decade, the number of
groundwater monitoring wells dropped from
nearly 100 statewide to less than 40.
“This new policy will promote the
collection of groundwater monitoring data
and help fill this data gap. The U.S. Geological
Survey will work with the IDNR to train and
quality-control the data collection,” explains
Vince Griffin, the Indiana Chamber’s vice
president of environmental and energy policy.
The other major legislation directs the
Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) to
commission a study and analysis of the water
utilities of the 15 largest cities in the state,
plus five other smaller communities, regarding
their water resources and preparation for
future needs.
“We need facts before solutions. These
efforts represent an important first wave in
addressing a comprehensive water resources
plan and ultimately addressing the issue of
governance over our water resources, which
right now is a hodge-podge of 500-plus
municipal water utilities,” Griffin surmises.
“Ultimately, this will identify best
practices and weak links in our water utilities’
activities around the state.”
A report from IFA has to be submitted
to the Legislative Council by November 1.
Concludes Charbonneau, “Bad law is
created when based on flawed data. Legislation
passed in 2015 has laid the groundwork for a
methodical, data-driven approach to the
development of a much needed state water plan.”
On a related note, the Indiana Chamber’s
water advisory council (which guided the
2014 study) has been expanded to include the
more impacted state agencies that are involved
with water resources.
Jim McGoff, general counsel and
director of environmental programs at IFA,
and Jack Wittman, Ph.D., principal hydrologist
with INTERA Incorporated and author of the
Indiana Chamber water research, presented
information at the group’s latest meeting in
early summer.
The goal of that gathering was to “help
identify the next steps going forward and if
further legislation is needed. There doesn’t
have to be. It could mean, to be honest, that
what we already have is sufficient to get things
moving if we just do it,” Griffin maintains.
“Right now, it’s about keeping our eye
on the ball. It’s about involving the key
players – legislators, government agencies,
business and industry – and making sure this
is moving along.
“It’s a critically important effort that
impacts economic development, livelihoods
and quality of life. We need a state water
plan as soon as we can make it happen.”
By Rebecca Patrick
WATER WATCH
Bills Move State Closer to Long-Range Plan
RESOURCES: Vince Griffin and the 2014 Indiana Chamber research at | Sen. Ed Charbonneau at
A summer 2014 study commissioned by the Indiana Chamber
Foundation warned that without planning and proper management,
the state’s water supply – a longtime natural resource strength – could
become a challenge for both businesses and citizens.
The Indiana Chamber’s Vince Griffin (left) and Sen. Ed Charbonneau teamed up during the 2015
legislative session to move the state closer to a water resources plan.
Legislative Review