Lebanon WWTP Expansion & Clean Water Improvements Frequently Asked Questions
Industrial Waste Permits (IWP):
Who Issues IWPs and When do the Apply?:
Lebanon Utilities operates a non-delegated pretreatment program. Under this type of program, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is responsible for the issuance of IWP permits to significant industrial users or categorical industries and ensure that water quality and public heath are effectively protected. Lebanon Utilities monitors and enforces compliance for all industrial dischargers to our collection system. Lebanon Utilities has responsibility for all industry discharging to the collection system operated by the Utility. Industries that are not significant or categorical operate under the Lebanon Sewer Use Ordinance (SUO).
New or relocating industries are evaluated based on type, flow volume, and wastewater strength. If an IWP is required, the industry submits an application to both Lebanon Utilities and IDEM describing the proposed discharge. Both agencies review the application and set discharge limits that must be met before discharge to the collection system. If the industry is not significant or categorical, Lebanon Utilities handles the permitting process under the SUO. This process is used to establish permitted water quality limits the industry must comply with prior to discharging to the Lebanon Utilities collection system. If a proposed industry is not a categorical industry or a significant industrial user, the permitting process is handled solely by Lebanon Utilities.
Lebanon Utilities evaluates each proposed industrial discharge for impacts on the collection system and the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). If a discharge could interfere with WWTP operations or pass through untreated whether the pollutant is regulated or unregulated, it is not allowed.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit:
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System is a federal program that is administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). Wastewater treatment plants that discharge to waters must have an NPDES permit. Lebanon’s permit sets water quality limits, reporting requirements, and other permit conditions. For additional information on the NPDES permitting system, please reference the U.S. EPA website located here: NPDES Permit Basics | US EPA.
Lebanon Utilities conducts daily testing to demonstrate NPDES compliance and to monitor WWTP operations. Results are reported monthly to IDEM and the U.S. EPA. In fact, this testing is done to demonstrate not only compliance, but also operational parameters indicating appropriate functionality of the WWTP. All of this data is reported to both IDEM and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) monthly. This data is publicly available via the IDEM Virtual File Cabinet (Guest Home Page) and the USEPA ECHO compliance site (Enforcement and Compliance History Online | US EPA).
Lebanon Utilities discharges treated water to Prairie Creek via Outfall 001 under NPDES Permit IN0020818. The permit term runs for five (5) years.
Antidegradation Demonstrations
Antidegradation: When a Demonstration may be Required?:
States must have antidegradation policies to prevent lowering water quality. In Indiana, if a new or expanded discharge could lower water quality, IDEM may require an antidegradation demonstration, as outlined in 327 IAC 2-1.3-5(a). Not every new or expanded discharge requires a demonstration, only those for which IDEM’s initial review indicates a potential lowering of water quality. See IDEM’s antidegradation fact sheet for more details. As noted, Antidegradation demonstrations are not required for every new or expanded discharge point, only for those points that IDEM requires, if an initial antidegradation review notes that a lowering of water quality may occur from the discharge. Please refer to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management antidegradation fact sheet (factsheet_owq_ww_antideg_overview.pdf) for more detailed information on what situations require the submission of an antidegradation demonstration.
If required, IDEM manages the review process; which includes two public comment periods: (1) after the submitted antidegradation demonstration is deemed complete and (2) during the draft NPDES permit public comment period. A final determination on the proposed discharge will not be made by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management until all public comments have been considered.
Discharge Location:
Will Lebanon Utilities be discharging treated effluent water to Eagle Creek Reservoir?:
No. On 5/1/2026, Lebanon Utilities committed, in writing, to taking this outfall location out of the list of sites being evaluated. All potential outfall locations currently being evaluated are within Boone County.
Is there an update on the treated effluent water line status?:
Yes. Lebanon Utilities is evaluating multiple sites for a potential outfall, including a water model on Prairie Creek’s capacity to take a portion/all the treated effluent from the WWTP. We anticipate this water model to be completed by 7/1/2026.
Will there be an update to the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER)?:
Yes. After the water model study is completed and Lebanon Utilities, along with Wessler, evaluate the data provided by the study, Wessler will be updating the PER in a timely manner.