Dearborn County, Indiana

Public Outreach & Involvement Resources and Opportunities

What is a 303d listed impaired water?

As part of section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, states are required to report impaired waters to the environmental protection agency. The Clean Water Act calls for waters to be swimmable, fishable, and drinkable. If a water is considered impaired it means that the water quality standards for one or more of those designated uses are not met. 

Recreational water quality standards are evaluated for E. Coli and/or levels of Phosphorous.

Aquatic life impairments are evaluated by impaired biotic communities, dissolved oxygen, pH, nutrients, mercury levels, sedimentation, total suspended solids, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and pesticides. 

Drinking water impairments are evaluated by algae, taste, and odor. 

If you would like to know about what waters are impaired right here in Dearborn County, you can view them on OKI's Environmental Mitigation and Suitability Modeler. You will need to add the county boundaries layer and the 303(d) listed waters layer. 

OKI Environmental Mitigation and Suitability Modeler

Are you curious about our local water quality?

One way to get involved is through Hoosier River Watch. This is a program where anyone can volunteer and participate in water quality testing and data collection. Training and supplies are provided through the Hoosier River Watch Program. For more details see the link: www.hoosierriverwatch.com/