Speedway's Streams Rated Impaired

(posted Apr 27)

Water is no longer a resource that we can take for granted, or abuse by dumping oil, vegetation, and animal waste into storm drains. Although 80 percent of our planet is comprised of water, only one percent of the world's water supply is available for human consumption.

Like other communities, Speedway is paying the price for those who pollute our streams. All four streams; Dry Run, Dry Run Diversion, Eagle Creek and Little Eagle, are classified as impaired with E-Coli bacteria. Many Indiana streams are ranked impaired due to animal waste. Some of the E-Coli growth is due to the geese population.

Although Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Norm Berry attested that there are no problems with our drinking water, he emphasized the more pollutants that are dumped into the stream, the more costly it is to treat to meet EPA standards.

Berry's presentation was part of Speedway first annual Earth Day celebration on April 22. His educational workshop about the watershed, impaired streams and the impact of storm water run-off were part of the EPA Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (M-S4) requirement.

Speedway is a highly impervious town that adds to pollution problems with its stormwater runoff. The impervious surfaces interrupt the rain water's ability to evaporate or to be absorbed into the land. Impervious surfaces transport the draining water into a catch basin that is discharged into one of four streams in Speedway. In some parts of town, there is a combined sewer system, mixing stormwater and sewage into one pipe on its way to the treatment plant. During heavy rain events, such huge volumes of water hitting the plant push it beyond its capacity; the additional stormwater and sewage is discharged into Eagle Creek. Berry issues warnings to stay out of the creek when a bypass occurs.

Speedway residents' level of care, commitment, and respect for water has a ripple effect beyond the town's boundaries. Throwing grass clippings into Dry Run Ditch or excess oil from a lawn mower does not create a benign outcome for our water quality and environment.

Berry explained that one quart of oil dumped into a stream can affect 2,500 gallons of water. The impact is magnified when the stream is slow moving. A water droplet falling into Dry Run Ditch will take a 1,400 mile journey and eventually empty into the Gulf of Mexico.

Speedway is located in the Eagle Creek Watershed, a sub-unit of the Upper White River Watershed. Watersheds are important because they filter and drain storm water into streams, marshes, lakes and rivers.

Local water quality is of the utmost concern for Coca-Cola Enterprises. The local bottling plant relies on an underground river flowing 250 feet below their 25th Street location to supply water for its Dasani production. William Marty, Coca-Cola's Community Relations Manager, spoke of spill scenarios and potential threats to the water supply. The river flows from northwest to southeast. The majority of areas northwest of the plant are residential, minimizing the chances of an industrial spill affecting the water supply.

Marty said Dasani production has been going on for about five years. The company submits reports to the town, city and state to report their usage. "All of the wells are registered," he said, adding that testing has indicated that Dasani production has not lowered the level of the aquifer. "There is no measurable change."

He said the other aquifer that supplies water for Dasani is in Portland, Indiana. That aquifer is monitored for leaching because a foundry once stood over the aquifer.