Indiana Water Resources Research Center

Indiana has a plentiful water supply which includes 35,672 miles of rivers and streams, over 105,000 acres of publicly owned lakes, reservoirs and ponds and 59 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. Yet we continue to struggle to find ways to manage our water so that we will meet increasing demands for more reliable, cleaner water and to restore, preserve, and maintain more of the services that our bodies of water provide including; clean drinking water, recreation, flood peak mitigation, wetland habitat, and others. In general, ground-water quality is good and groundwater is very safe. Indiana surface waters resources have undergone extensive assessment and a new surface water monitoring program administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management was implemented in 2001. Indiana water users withdraw approximately 10,700 million gallons of water per day from our ground and surface water resources. Surface water for energy production (water used for cooling in coal-fired power plants) accounts for the largest part (65%) of the state water supply.


The mission of the IWRRC is to coordinate the intellectual and physical resources of Indiana's universities, state agencies, and industries to resolve technical, economic, and other problems associated with water resources management, use, and preservation. The IWWRC supports research by administering the section 104B program for the state of Indiana.


The goals of the IWRRC are to facilitate interdisciplinary approaches to solutions of water resources issues in Indiana by gathering experts in water-related areas (such as agriculture, biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, engineering, law, political science, sociology, statistics, and wildlife).

Serve as a resource to state agencies and industries by providing the expert services of IWRRC faculty, conducting advanced research studies, and providing a forum for discussion and exchange of information.  Also, members of the IWRRC staff are in frequent contact with state water agencies and serve on many state task forces.

Provide a repository of knowledge and expertise available for use in problem-solving, planning, practical design, policy development, research and education.

Develop a comprehensive water research program with statewide impact by utilizing faculty and facility resources at Indiana's institutions of higher education.

Strengthen student education/training in water-related fields: encourage students to enter these fields, and provide the manpower necessary to solve future water resource problems.