Lebanon Utilities weighs wastewater discharge alternatives amid public pushback

Lebanon Utilities weighs wastewater discharge alternatives amid public pushbackThe Indiana utility is awaiting a study from Christopher Burke Engineering on alternative outfall options ahead of IDEM permitting, following opposition from residents over impacts to a regional drinking water reservoir.

Residents voiced opposition to plans routing total wastewater volume into the Eagle Creek reservoir.

Christopher Burke Engineering is finalizing a study on alternative outfalls, including utilizing Prairie Creek.

Stakeholders have suggested Whitelick Creek as another alternative to return flow to the Upper White River watershed.

The board also approved a $40,000 contract with BF&S to modernize the utility's water and wastewater GIS mapping.

Lebanon Utilities is facing mounting public pressure over its future wastewater discharge routing, prompting the evaluation of alternative outfall options ahead of formal state permitting. During a June 17, 2026, utility board meeting, residents from neighboring communities urged the utility to reconsider plans that would discharge total wastewater volume into the Eagle Creek reservoir, a critical drinking water source for the region. The pushback follows a May 1 announcement by the utility regarding its discharge plans. The utility is currently awaiting a study from Christopher Burke Engineering that will evaluate alternative discharge routes. According to public comments at the meeting, a primary focus of the study is the potential to increase flow at the outfall on Prairie Creek, which serves the utility's existing wastewater treatment plant. Stakeholders are also pressing the utility to consider Whitelick Creek, a small stream that accepts flow from nearby Whitestown and connects to the White River. Proponents argue this route would return source water to the Upper White River watershed rather than impacting the Eagle Creek reservoir. "Those of us who use Eagle Creek Park and obtain our drinking water from the reservoir are opposed to the total volume discharge going back into the reservoir, even from the upstream standpoint," said Donna Blair, an Indianapolis resident, who requested greater transparency before the utility applies for discharge permits from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). While the board did not take formal action on the wastewater routing during the meeting, the ongoing engineering study is expected to guide the utility's final permitting strategy. In separate business, the board unanimously approved a $40,000 not-to-exceed contract with BF&S (Butler Framon and Seiffert) to assist with water and wastewater geographic information system (GIS) updates. The agreement splits costs evenly between the water and wastewater departments and aims to clear a mapping backlog, with the goal of reducing the lag time for logging construction as-builts from six months to 90 days by shifting more data entry in-house.