Zionsville Raises Concerns About LEAP Wastewater: What Happened and What Comes Next

A newly approved resolution puts Zionsville’s concerns on the record, but it does not stop Lebanon’s wastewater planning or decide where treated water will ultimately be discharged.

The Zionsville Town Council has formally raised concerns about the possibility that treated wastewater connected to Lebanon’s LEAP Innovation District could be discharged into waterways that travel through Zionsville.

On September 21, the council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-26, calling on Lebanon officials and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, commonly known as IDEM, to eliminate or reject plans involving wastewater or treated effluent being discharged into waterways within Zionsville’s corporate limits.

The action adds another community voice to the ongoing discussion surrounding the infrastructure needed to support LEAP. It does not, however, establish a final wastewater route, cancel a permit or give Zionsville direct authority over Lebanon’s plans.

Here is what happened, what the resolution means and what residents should watch next.

What did Zionsville approve?

Resolution 2026-26 is a formal statement of opposition from the Zionsville Town Council.

The document says council members understand that discussions involving Lebanon and state regulators have included the possibility of discharging wastewater into waterways located within Zionsville. It asks Lebanon leaders to remove any such option from their plans and calls on IDEM not to approve a permit containing that type of discharge route.

The resolution is also being circulated to Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry, the Lebanon City Council, IDEM Commissioner Clint Woods and Indiana Gov. Mike Braun.

Zionsville officials described the move as proactive and said they have heard concerns from residents about the potential effects on local waterways.

Does this stop Lebanon’s wastewater project?

No. The resolution communicates Zionsville’s official position, but the town does not have the legal authority to unilaterally block a wastewater plan outside its jurisdiction.

Zionsville’s council attorney acknowledged during discussion of the measure that the town cannot directly prevent a discharge proposal from moving forward. Instead, the resolution is expected to become part of the public record when a specific plan enters the state review process.

That distinction matters: the vote is politically and publicly significant, but it is not a permit decision.

Has a final discharge location been selected?

Not publicly.

Earlier planning documents identified a potential treated-water discharge point within Eagle Creek Park, prompting objections from residents, environmental organizations and Indianapolis-area officials. In May, Lebanon Utilities announced that the final discharge location would not be located inside the boundaries of Eagle Creek Park.

At the time, the utility said other options were still being evaluated and that a final location had not been selected.

The Zionsville resolution responds to concern that another possible route could involve waterways flowing through the town. It should not be read as confirmation that such a route has been finalized or approved.

What exactly would be discharged?

The proposal concerns treated wastewater, also called treated effluent—not untreated sewage being released directly from LEAP facilities.

Wastewater would first travel through Lebanon’s wastewater system and undergo treatment before being discharged under a state-issued permit. That permit would establish water-quality requirements, monitoring rules and limits on pollutants.

The word “treated” does not mean residents are wrong to ask questions. Communities downstream may reasonably want to understand what would be in the water, how treatment standards would be enforced, how much water could be released and what the cumulative effects might be.

It does mean the public discussion should distinguish between treated effluent and raw sewage. They are not the same thing.

Why does LEAP need expanded wastewater infrastructure?

The LEAP District is being developed to accommodate large advanced-manufacturing and technology projects, including major campuses for Eli Lilly and Meta. Those facilities—and any future development within the district—will require substantially more water and wastewater capacity than Lebanon’s existing system was designed to handle.

Lebanon Utilities has been planning improvements to its wastewater treatment system, including additional treatment capacity and infrastructure to carry treated water to an approved discharge point.

The wastewater question is separate from, but closely connected to, the regional project that will supply additional drinking and industrial water to Lebanon. Together, the projects illustrate how development at LEAP extends beyond individual construction sites and into long-term regional infrastructure planning.

What happens next?

The most important next step will be the release of a specific discharge proposal.

Once formal plans and permit applications are available, IDEM will review whether the project complies with Indiana and federal water-quality requirements. The permitting process is also expected to include a public-comment period, giving local governments, organizations and residents an opportunity to submit concerns and supporting information.

Zionsville officials have said their resolution will be submitted as public comment during that process.

Until a route and permit application are made public, several key questions remain unanswered:

• Where would the treated water enter the watershed?
• Which streams or waterways would receive it?
• How much treated water could be discharged each day?
• What treatment and monitoring standards would apply?
• How would possible downstream effects be evaluated?

The bottom line

Zionsville has formally stated that it does not want LEAP-related wastewater discharged into waterways within the town. That position may influence the public discussion and the state’s review, but the resolution itself does not determine the final route.

For now, there is no publicly announced final discharge location. The next meaningful development will come when Lebanon Utilities releases a specific plan and IDEM begins reviewing the associated permit.

This remains an evolving infrastructure issue. As additional plans, maps and permit documents become available, the details—not simply the headlines—will determine what the proposal would mean for Lebanon, Zionsville and communities throughout the Eagle Creek watershed.