What Does the Future of Water Look Like in Southern Indiana?

Most of us don’t give much thought to where our water comes from. We turn on the faucet, fill a glass, water the garden or wash the dishes, rarely stopping to consider the systems and natural resources that make it possible.

But water is something every community depends on, and making sure it remains available takes planning. As industries change, communities grow and environmental conditions shift, understanding what our water resources may look like in the years ahead becomes increasingly important.

A new study commissioned by the Indiana Finance Authority takes a closer look at those questions, examining water demand and availability across southeastern and southern Indiana over the next 50 years. The September 2026 Ohio River and Southeast Indiana Regional Water Study looks at 21 counties, including Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Posey and Gibson, and considers how water needs and availability could change through 2070.

The findings offer some reassurance, but they also point to areas that deserve attention.

A projected decline, with an important explanation

One of the most striking findings is that total regional water withdrawals are projected to decrease from approximately 2,013 million gallons per day in 2020 to 761 million gallons per day by 2070. That’s a decline of roughly 62%.

At first glance, that may sound like a significant reduction in the amount of water the region will need. But the reason behind the projection is important.

The decrease is driven almost entirely by the expected retirement of once-through coal-fired power plants, which currently account for the vast majority of regional water withdrawals. The study projects that withdrawals for power generation will fall from approximately 1,881 million gallons per day in 2020 to 619 million gallons per day in 2070.

In other words, the projected decline does not mean households, farms and businesses are expected to dramatically reduce their water use. It reflects an anticipated shift in how electricity is generated and the amount of water those facilities withdraw.

When power generation is considered separately, other trends become easier to see.

Industrial water withdrawals are projected to increase modestly, from about 44 million gallons per day to 46 million. Public water supply withdrawals are expected to rise from approximately 80 million gallons per day in 2020 to 84 million by 2070, after a modest increase through the mid-2020s.

Agricultural irrigation is projected to see the largest percentage increase among these smaller water-use categories. The study estimates withdrawals could grow from approximately 1.6 million gallons per day to more than 6.1 million, with the strongest increases concentrated in Spencer, Posey and Vanderburgh counties.

For communities with strong agricultural ties, that finding is worth watching. Irrigation represents a relatively small share of total regional withdrawals, but its projected growth could have implications for how water resources are managed, particularly during periods when availability is more limited.

Where water availability becomes a concern

The study doesn’t look only at how much water people and industries are expected to use. It also examines how much water is available in the region’s rivers and streams, including whether enough water is expected to remain to support their health.

Researchers divided the study area into 11 sub-basins and evaluated water availability across different seasons. Looking at historical conditions from 2007 through 2023, nearly all of the sub-basins maintained enough streamflow to meet established minimum targets. One sub-basin experienced a single fall season below its target during that period.

Those targets are important to understand. They represent minimum streamflow levels intended to help maintain water quality and the ecological health of rivers and streams. Falling below them for an extended period can put the health of a waterway at risk. They are not measurements of whether drinking water from a public utility is safe.

Looking ahead, the study identifies the Whitewater River watershed as an area where seasonal water availability could become more challenging. Researchers project that all five sub-basins within the watershed could experience at least one seasonal occurrence of water availability falling below established targets during the future planning period, with the greatest concerns concentrated in the fall.

Outside the Whitewater watershed, projected conditions are more stable. The study does, however, anticipate reduced fall streamflow in the Ohio River by 2070.

That distinction matters. The report does not project a region-wide water deficit. Instead, it identifies differences among watersheds and seasons, showing why water availability needs to be considered at a local level rather than viewed only through regional averages.

What this means for the communities we call home

For residents across Southern Indiana, these findings raise broader questions about how communities prepare for the future.

Public water systems require ongoing maintenance and investment. Farmers depend on reliable supplies during growing seasons, while manufacturers and other industries need water to operate. Changes in demand, infrastructure and environmental conditions can affect each of these needs in different ways.

The study also points to concerns beyond supply and demand, including aging water infrastructure, water quality and the need for better monitoring of regional water resources. Its recommendations include improving water-use efficiency, strengthening drought planning and expanding monitoring of streams and groundwater.

These are long-term planning issues, not reasons for residents to assume a shortage is around the corner. The study does not say that Southern Indiana is running out of water, nor does it establish that local drinking water is unsafe. Its purpose is to help state and local decision-makers understand where challenges may develop and what can be done to address them.

It is easy to think about the future of a community in terms of new businesses, housing, roads and economic development. Those things matter, but so do the resources that make growth possible in the first place.

Water is one of them. It supports our homes, farms, businesses and natural surroundings, often without receiving much attention until a problem arises.

The Ohio River has shaped this region for generations. It has influenced where communities developed, how goods moved and how people made their living. Today, it remains an important part of the region’s economy and identity.

As we look toward the decades ahead, understanding how water is used, where it is available and what pressures may emerge is part of making sure our communities are prepared.

The most important takeaway from this study isn’t that we should be worried about running out of water. It’s that we have an opportunity to understand our resources now, recognize where planning is needed and make thoughtful decisions about what comes next.

Because the water that sustains this region today will matter just as much to the generations who call it home tomorrow.