§ 5-1.2-11.5-10 — Drinking water and wastewater infrastructure research and extension program; contract with college or university; services and programs

Indiana § 5-1.2-11.5-10

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Title 5: STATE AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
• Art. 1.2: INDIANA FINANCE AUTHORITY
• Ch. 11.5: Monitoring, Study, and Assessment by the Indiana

Text

(a) As used in this section, "program"
refers to the drinking water and wastewater infrastructure research and
extension program authorized by subsection (c).
(b) As used in this section, "utility" means any of the following that
provides drinking water, wastewater, or storm water service in Indiana:
(1) A public utility (as defined in IC 8-1-2-1(a)).
(2) A municipally owned utility (as defined in IC 8-1-2-1(h)).
(3) A not-for-profit utility (as defined in IC 8-1-2-125(a)).
(4) A cooperatively owned corporation.
(5) A conservancy district established under IC 14-33.
(6) A regional sewer district established under IC 13-26.
(7) A department of storm water management under IC 8-1.5-5.
(c) A drinking water and wastewater infrastructure research and
extension program may be established to provide data collection and
information, training, and technical assistance concerning:
(1) drinking water infrastructure;
(2) wastewater infrastructure; and
(3) storm water infrastructure;
in Indiana, including assistance with infrastructure and system design,
construction, operation, maintenance, financial management, and
administration.
(d) The authority may contract with a state supported college or
university in Indiana to provide the program. The program:
(1) must be overseen by a director and include such staff as
mutually agreed upon by the authority and the college or
university; and
(2) may be housed within, or share staff with, the research and
highway extension program established by IC 8-17-7, as may be
mutually agreed upon by the authority and the college or
university.
The authority may financially support the program from existing funds
appropriated to the authority.
(e) The program may provide the following services and programs
to, or for the benefit of, utilities that provide drinking water,
wastewater, or storm water service in Indiana:
(1) Assisting utilities in the development of asset management
programs by:
(A) providing educational and technical assistance concerning
the principles, benefits, requirements, and implementation of a
successful asset management program; and
(B) reviewing the asset management programs of utilities and
offering advice in cases in which information or essential
components may be missing or lacking.
(2) Serving as a central repository for data concerning the location
and condition of, and populations served by, drinking water
infrastructure, wastewater infrastructure, and storm water
infrastructure throughout Indiana, by:
(A) collecting:
(i) data from utilities, local units, and state agencies; or
(ii) field data;
(B) compiling and organizing the data collected; and
(C) subject to subsection (g), making the data available in an
electronic format specified by the authority on a website
maintained by:
(i) the authority; or
(ii) the program.
(3) Providing training and technical assistance to utilities by:
(A) offering, participating in, or sponsoring statewide or local
conferences and workshops on topics related to the design,
construction, operation, maintenance, and administration of
utilities' infrastructure and systems; and
(B) making available or providing information on professional
development opportunities for Indiana's drinking water,
wastewater, and storm water utility industry workforces.
(f) Subject to subsection (g), not later than July 1, 2023, the
authority shall make information concerning all:
(1) utility asset management programs; and
(2) utility asset lifecycle management costs;
submitted to or reviewed by the authority under this article available in
an electronic format specified by the authority on a website maintained
by the authority or the program.
(g) In carrying out the duties set forth in subsections (e)(2) and (f),
the authority and, if applicable, the program shall use any data the
authority or the program acquires in a manner that:
(1) protects the confidential information of individual utilities and
customers; and
(2) is consistent with IC 5-14-3-4.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.18-2022, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.1-2025, SEC.33.