Fort Wayne City Utilities is proud to operate a renowned water system, including awards for a 25-Year Directors Award from the Partnership for Safe Water and municipal best-tasting municipal water internationally.
Fort Wayne City Utilities news release:
Grant Supports Protection of St. Joseph River Drinking Water Source
Funding Supports Watershed Planning and Public InvolvementFort Wayne, Indiana (June 18, 2026) – City Utilities is proud to operate a renowned water system, including awards for a 25-Year Directors Award from the Partnership for Safe Water and municipal best-tasting municipal water internationally.
As part of preserving this status, City Utilities is launching an updated plan to protect the Lower St. Joseph Watershed, a primary source of drinking water for more than 300,000 people. Reducing pollution before it reaches the river helps protect drinking water quality, local streams and waterways people enjoy for fishing, kayaking and other recreation.
The utility received a $134,675 federal grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)’s Clean Water Act Section 205 (j) grant program. Updates to the watershed management plan, which started as a 2008 study, will continue over the next few years.
As part of preserving this status, City Utilities is launching an updated plan to protect the Lower St. Joseph Watershed, a primary source of drinking water for more than 300,000 people. Reducing pollution before it reaches the river helps protect drinking water quality, local streams and waterways people enjoy for fishing, kayaking and other recreation.
“Protecting the St. Joseph River starts long before water reaches the treatment plant,” said Kerry Korpela, City Utilities project manager. “Years of data help us understand the watershed and have guided improvements to better protect drinking water and river quality. But people who live, work and recreate in the watershed can help us spot concerns that may not show up in the data right away — recurring drainage issues, erosion, runoff concerns, changes in local streams and ditches, and even illegal dumping. Their input can help us identify areas of concern and shape practical solutions that protect the St. Joseph River.”
A watershed is an area of land — for the Lower St. Joseph, from DeKalb County to downtown Fort Wayne — where stormwater, runoff and water from springs, creeks and ditches drain into the same larger body of water. The watershed plays an important role in Fort Wayne’s source water, local streams and waterways people enjoy for recreation.
The grant-funded updates to the watershed plan will include a management section to assess the quality of the watershed through monitoring different sites, and an outreach section to engage with the public and provide accessible watershed education through workshops and events.
At a glance:
- City Utilities granted $134,675 from IDEM to update St. Joe Watershed plan
- Sustainable watershed practices should be promoted to improve drinking water quality
- City Utilities is seeking public engagement in the updated plan
Fort Wayne City Utilities provides drinking water, stormwater and sewage services to the Fort Wayne area, responsible for operating extensive systems for each water service. City Utilities is committed to public safety, health and increasing sustainability for the citizens it serves.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (C6-00E72025) to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does its mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
Related Images:
