Bill would pause some large groundwater projects in Wabash River basin

No one could set up a covered groundwater pumping site in the Wabash River basin during the ban. Covered sites could pump at least 10 million gallons a day and pipe at least 5 million gallons a day for at least 20 miles. The basin covers parts of six counties. County officials could allow a site, but each county where it would draw water or send water through must approve it. Operating sites that increase pumping or pipeline capacity by no more than 2 million gallons a day are exempt. Projects with contracts to plan or set them up signed before January 1, 2026, are also exempt. The ban would run from May 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.

No one could use state money to plan a covered site in the Wabash River basin during the funding ban. This applies to Wabash River basin sites capable of pumping at least 10 million gallons a day and piping at least 5 million gallons a day for at least 20 miles. Operating sites that increase pumping or pipeline capacity by no more than 2 million gallons a day are exempt. Projects with contracts to plan or set them up signed before January 1, 2026, are also exempt. County permission alone would not lift the funding ban. The funding ban would run from May 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.

A temporary task force would study groundwater and send recommendations to Indiana lawmakers. Its work would cover moving groundwater, tracking water supplies, and balancing conservation with water use. Its meetings would be open to the public. It would report by December 1, 2027, and end July 1, 2028.