Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) is committed to the continuous improvement of our water and sewer infrastructure. We invest millions of dollars in capital projects for initiatives, including water line replacement and improvement and sewer line and lift station projects. Future investments include construction of a new water treatment plant, and capacity expansion for the East Wastewater Treatment Plant, West Wastewater Treatment Plant and overflow basin. We diligently monitor water quality around the clock and track all Utility assets, performing routine and proactive maintenance to anticipate and prevent major issues before they impact our customers.
Part of the EWSU core mission is to manage and protect our community’s precious land and water resources. Being a good steward of the environment means investing in reliable, clean energy sources that eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, reduce air pollution and conserve natural resources. The Utility has several renewable energy projects underway.
EWSU has a long-term strategy – Refresh Evansville – to replace the city’s aging water mains and supporting infrastructure, some of which dates back to the early 1900s. Our goal is to ensure the integrity of our water distribution network for the health and wellbeing of the community for future generations.
EWSU will invest $729 million over 25 years on planned capital projects to upgrade our sewer infrastructure in response to a federal mandate to bring the City of Evansville into compliance with the Clean Water Act of 1972. Renew Evansville projects will significantly reduce the amount of combined sewer overflows and prevent untreated sewage from reaching the Ohio River and Pigeon Creek.
The current EWSU Water Treatment Plant was built more than 125 years ago and is near the end of its useful life. Equipment and electrical parts that were created for systems of the 1890s and 1900s are obsolete and must be custom-made when there is a breakdown. EWSU has developed a plan to build a new water treatment facility. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025.
