Quality

Wellhead Protection

To minimize the risk of ground water contamination, Indianapolis Water, in accordance with the state Wellhead Protection Rule and local ordinances, implemented a Wellhead Protection Program. This program involves working with local planning teams and regulators, mapping of the wellhead protection areas, identifying potential sources of ground water contamination, working with businesses to prevent spills and releases of chemicals, and preparing a contingency plan in case of contamination. Indianapolis Water and its partners Veolia Water Indianapolis and the Marion County Wellfield Education Corporation received the Hoosier Guardian Award from Indiana Department of Environmental Management in 2007 for outstanding educational efforts regarding wellhead protection.

What is groundwater?

Groundwater starts as rain and melted snow. It seeps into the ground from the surface through soil, sand, gravel and rocks. Water collects in small pockets in between the sand and gravel, or pores, underground.

What is an aquifer?

A large ground water body that is tapped by wells and pumped to the surface for use is referred to as an aquifer. Marion County has large sand and gravel aquifers that are valuable drinking water sources.

What is a wellfield?

The land above and surrounding wells drilled into an aquifer is called a wellfield. Water collecting on the surface in the wellfield and surrounding area seeps through the ground into an aquifer. The area where the surface water seeps into the ground, to the aquifer and recharges the wells is called a wellfield protection area.

Why should I care about a wellfield?

For many years we believed that our groundwater was protected from contamination because it is underground. We now know that this is not completely true.

We now know that if we are not careful, we can contaminate our precious aquifers which is our water supply. People living and working in wellfields need to be especially careful to keep contaminants off the ground where they can seep into our underground drinking water supply.

What are the contaminants that can pollute our water supply?

Contaminants include chemicals which are used in the home, business and industry, and agriculture. Chemicals such as furniture strippers, lawn and garden chemicals, cleaning chemicals and solvents, gasoline, oil, road salt, and others all contaminate groundwater supplies if poured on the ground or improperly used or stored.

Am I located in a wellfield?

Signs are located on streets around the boundaries of the wellfields to let us know that we entering these protected areas. Click here for the Interactive Wellfield Locator Map.

Additional wellfield resources

Indiana Department of Environmental Management State Wellhead Protection Program

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Federal Wellhead Protection Program

Indianapolis Department of Public Works Wellhead Protection Program (Environmental Resources Management Division)

Marion County Wellfield Education Corporation (MCWEC) Marion County Wellhead Protection Program

Marion County Health and Hospital Corporation - Health Department Marion County General Water Quality and Hazardous Materials