CollegeAvenueIndy.org noticed a story in this morning's Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette entitled "Aging water systems need billions in repairs". According to the story, Indiana’s aging water infrastructure needs $2.3 billion in immediate repairs and $815 million a year in additional maintenance to protect human health. Most of Indiana’s pipes were installed after World War II, but some date back to the 1890s. Corroded by age, some the state’s 46,000 miles of water pipes are made of lead or other metals that could potentially release chemicals into distributed drinking water, which could be harmful to residents’ health. According to a study conducted by the Indiana Finance Authority, "The risks posed are unprecedented, and the problem is challenging because of the unforeseen difficulty of locating the problem pipes.” The report recommends that Indiana lawmakers allocate general fund appropriations to assist with the immediate water infrastructure needs. CollegeAvenueIndy.org has recently learned about a 20-year statewide funding gap for Indiana wastewater and drinking water infrastructure that is estimated to be between $6.5 billion and $8.5 billion, according to a new study by the Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. See below... http://news.iupui.edu/releases/2016/11/water-infrastructure-funding%20gap.shtml Between 2005 and 2014, local governments invested approximately $4.5 billion in combined wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. If spending levels remain at the same level, state and local governments are facing an annual shortfall of up to $423 million. The working capital estimate for individual county water needs ranges from a low of $11.5 million in Warren County to a high of $3.2 billion for Marion County. While local government investments in water and wastewater infrastructure are supported by agencies such as the Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Indiana Finance Authority State Revolving Loans Program, the funds available from these organizations are limited. Access to additional grants and low-or-no-interest loans will be needed to minimize utility rate increases across Indiana. In short... you can expect your monthly water bill to increase significantly. This cheery news comes right after the Indianapolis City-County Council voted on 11/14/2016 to approve Mayor Hogsett’s request to borrow $75 million for road funding, public safety, and city infrastructure projects. See below... http://fox59.com/2016/11/15/indy-city-county-council-approves-mayors-request-to-borrow-75m-for-roads-public-safety/ CollegeAvenueIndy.org once again asks... If we have to borrow money to pay for roads, public safety, and city infrastructure; why on Earth are we building an expensive electric bus line with raised medians and 700 square foot stations along College Avenue and Meridian Streets. Surely our civic leaders do not place the Red Line above safe drinking water in terms of funding priority... Do they? See the below link to learn more about our collective water woes...