2026 Annual Public Notice

2026 Annual Public Notice Citizens Energy Group (Citizens) and its wastewater division, CWA Authority, Inc., are providing this 2026 combined sewer outfall (CSO) annual notification pursuant to the requirements of the state water regulations and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the Indianapolis wastewater system. Even with the DigIndy Tunnel System in service, periods of localized heavy rain may still occasionally result in a CSO. The combined sewer system in Indianapolis is more than 100 years old and was designed to carry both sewage and rainwater in the same pipe system. As urban development increasingly utilized this type of combined system, even a minimal amount of rain could overload the capacity of pipes, causing the mixture of sewage and rainwater to overflow into nearby streams. To address this problem, Citizens constructed the DigIndy Tunnel System, a 28-mile system of underground tunnels to capture these CSOs that otherwise would have entered waterways. Completed in 2025, the DigIndy Tunnel System is designed to nearly eliminate CSOs, creating healthier waterways and improving the health of our neighborhoods. Through these efforts, it is estimated that approximately 5 billion gallons of wastewater each year are no longer discharged directly to waterways. After a CSO event, you should avoid direct contact with waterways downstream of the combined sewer areas, generally located in the oldest areas of Indianapolis. Citizens has posted signs along Indianapolis waterways to identify approximately 130 overflow points where contact with the water could be hazardous to your health during or after a CSO event. These are generally concentrated in the following waterway locations: White River downstream from 56th StreetFall Creek downstream from Keystone AvenueLittle Eagle Creek downstream from Michigan StreetEagle Creek downstream from the confluence of Little Eagle CreekPogues Run downstream from 21st StreetPleasant Run downstream from Kitley AvenueState Ditch downstream from Southern AvenueBean Creek downstream from I-65 Swallowing or hand-to-mouth contact with contaminated water could make you sick. Always use hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water after contacting surface water in urban areas, including downstream of the combined sewer areas. This is especially important before eating, drinking, or preparing food. Learn more about the Citizens wastewater system at citizensenergygroup.com. Publication Dates LSBN0484407