Digging Deeper into Indianapolis’ Combined Sewer System

by Erin Crowther

Waterways constitute the building blocks of Indiana’s natural infrastructure. From Lake Michigan in the north to the Ohio River in the south, streams, rivers, and lakes have driven the state’s economy, defined its borders, and provided essential resources to generations of Hoosiers. However, since Indiana’s inception into the United States in the early 1800s and the industrial boom that followed, the state’s attention was refocused on advancement, efficiency, and growth, leaving the protection of the waterways relied on by so many behind. This Prezi presentation, formatted as newspaper with stories and pictures, traces the history of Indianapolis’ Combined Sewer system, explores both its impact on communities and asks why it has taken the city so long to develop a solution.