Representative image of a limestone quarry. (Image Credits: Pexels)
As per the Environmental Resilience Institute , the Indianapolis region receives about 42 inches of rainfall annually, but the timing is unpredictable. During the 2012 drought, the severity of this problem became apparent when Geist Reservoir fell 18 inches, while Eagle Creek Reservoir dropped a foot, as per the Indianapolis Business Journal. Citizens Energy Group began preliminary planning for the new facility in 2013. As per the Environmental Resilience Institute, the cost of the land was $13 million and construction added another $17 million. This brought the total amount to $30 million, which was financed through Citizens Energy Group’s capital budget. To put savings in perspective, the university’s case study estimates that constructing a conventional reservoir of comparable capacity would have cost between $600 million and $700 million.
The region has to navigate the problem of heavy rainfall that exceeds storage capacity and, conversely, dry spells, which strain the water supply. Moreover, restrictions were imposed on water supply in communities as a sustainable measure during the dry conditions. The event served as a stark reminder of how water can be affected under extreme weather, and this vulnerability was further aggravated by population and economic activity. During the feasibility stage, engineers examined whether the abandoned quarry’s limestone walls could contain stored water over extended periods. The utility also worked with the City of Fishers to assess planning requirements, construction impacts, and potential conflicts with future development. So, reusing the quarry was a more feasible alternative; however, these initial figures do not represent an exhaustive comparison of every possible reservoir design.
