Aqua Indiana breaks ground on Midwest Wastewater Treatment Plant – 21Alive

Project Report: Aqua Indiana Midwest Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion

Introduction and Overview

Aqua Indiana has initiated the construction of its Midwest Wastewater Treatment Plant, a significant infrastructure project located on Engle Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Representing a $28 million investment, this is the company’s largest capital improvement project within the state. The project, which commenced with a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, is scheduled for completion in 2027. The expansion is designed to provide critical support for the growing communities in Allen, Huntington, and Whitley Counties.

Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This infrastructure investment directly supports several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on environmental protection, public health, and sustainable community development.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The project’s primary objective is to advance SDG 6 by ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Key contributions include:

• Improved Water Quality: By implementing advanced treatment technology, the plant will enhance the quality of discharged water, protecting local waterways.
• Reduced Pollution: The increased capacity is engineered to reduce the risk of sanitary sewer overflows, a major source of water pollution.
• Enhanced Sanitation Services: The expansion guarantees continued and reliable wastewater services for a growing regional population.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The plant expansion is a critical component of building inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities in the Fort Wayne region, in line with SDG 11.

• Supporting Regional Growth: The project provides the necessary infrastructure to accommodate projected population increases, ensuring sustainable development.
• Resilient Infrastructure: This investment strengthens the region’s sanitation infrastructure, making it more resilient for future generations.
• Environmental Management: The project incorporates improved odor control and sludge treatment, reducing the environmental impact on the surrounding community.

SDG 3 and SDG 15: Good Health, Well-being, and Life on Land

The initiative also makes significant contributions to public health and ecosystem protection.

• Protecting Public Health (SDG 3): By preventing water contamination from sewer overflows, the project safeguards the health and well-being of residents.
• Protecting Local Ecosystems (SDG 15): The commitment to safeguarding clean water, highlighted by the partnership with the Little River Wetlands Project, directly supports the protection and restoration of local terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

Project Objectives and Key Outcomes

The strategic goals of the $28 million investment are centered on long-term sustainability and service reliability. The expected outcomes are:

1. To increase wastewater treatment capacity to accommodate regional population growth.
2. To significantly reduce the risks associated with sanitary sewer overflows.
3. To implement superior odor control technologies for the benefit of the local community.
4. To enhance sludge treatment processes for more efficient and environmentally sound management.
5. To ensure the provision of reliable, long-term wastewater services for customers across three counties.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • The article’s primary focus is on the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant. This directly relates to SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The project’s goals of reducing sanitary sewer overflows, enhancing sludge treatment, and protecting local waterways are central to this SDG.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • The article describes the project as a “$28 million investment” and the “largest capital improvement project” by Aqua Indiana in the state. It is explicitly referred to as an “infrastructure investment” designed to provide “continued reliable service” and support regional growth. This aligns with SDG 9’s objective to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The project is intended to serve multiple counties and “accommodate population growth.” By improving wastewater management, reducing overflow risks, and controlling odor, the investment enhances the quality of life and environmental health of the Fort Wayne region, making the community more sustainable and resilient. This directly supports the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution and increasing wastewater treatment

   • The article states the project will use “advanced treatment technology” and enhance “sludge treatment” to protect “local waterways.” This directly addresses the goal of improving water quality by reducing pollution and increasing the proportion of safely treated wastewater. The effort to reduce “risks of sanitary sewer overflows” is a clear action towards minimizing the release of untreated wastewater into the environment.

2. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure

   • The article highlights that the new plant is an “infrastructure investment” that “will serve the Fort Wayne region for generations to come,” ensuring “continued reliable service.” This commitment to a long-term, reliable system that supports community growth perfectly matches the objective of developing high-quality, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure.

3. Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities

   • The project’s aims to manage wastewater more effectively, “reduce risks of sanitary sewer overflows,” and “improve odor control” are all measures that reduce the negative environmental impact of the urban and suburban areas it serves. This aligns with the target of improving municipal waste management to create healthier and more sustainable communities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 6.3 (Implied)

   • While not stating a specific number, the article implies progress related to **Indicator 6.3.1 (Proportion of wastewater safely treated)**. The construction of a new plant with “advanced treatment technology” is a direct measure of increasing the capacity and quality of wastewater treatment in the region. A reduction in the frequency and volume of “sanitary sewer overflows” would be a specific, measurable outcome to track progress.

2. Indicator for Target 9.1 (Mentioned)

   • The article explicitly mentions the **”$28 million investment”** in the project. This figure serves as a financial indicator of investment in sustainable infrastructure, which is related to **Indicator 9.a.1 (Total official international support to infrastructure)**, but applied at a local, corporate level. The completion of the plant itself is a tangible indicator of new, resilient infrastructure being developed.

3. Indicator for Target 11.6 (Implied)

   • The goal to “reduce risks of sanitary sewer overflows” implies a measurable indicator related to **Indicator 11.6.1 (Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities)**, specifically for liquid waste. The number of overflow incidents before and after the project’s completion would be a direct metric to assess the reduction of the city’s adverse environmental impact.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: 21alivenews.com