50 INDIANAPOLIS REGIONAL CENTER PLAN 2020 PLANNING DOWNTOWN�fS FUTURE TODAY MOVING AROUND DOWNTOWN 17.  INFRASTRUCTURE There is a complex infrastructure system that is critical to the function of Downtown Indianapolis.   It is important to make improvements and maintain these systems in order to meet the needs and demands of people who live, work and play in the Regional Center. Utilities There are a series of utilities throughout the Regional Center including water, chilled water, communication lines, gas, electric, steam, sanitary sewers and storm sewers.  The Citizens Thermal Energy plant is located within the Regional Center boundaries and is utilized today as a viable source of energy.  However, the 100- year old sewer system is in dire need of repair and upgrade.  Steps have been made to begin separating the combined sewer to eliminate overflow and improve surface drainage Water Quality In most cases, rivers and waterways in the Regional Center do not currently meet national clean water standards.  However, the historic Central Canal is supplied with groundwater, and is not a problem.  Currently, there are combined sewer overflow outfalls within the Regional Center which overflow approximately 60 times a year, polluting the White River, Fall Creek and Pogues Run.  These waterways have water quality concerns including high bacterial levels, impaired biotic levels, depressed dissolved oxygen levels and elevated organic concentrations in streambed sediments.  The City of Indianapolis has prepared a long-term control plan to address long-standing combined sewer overflow problems, incorporating a 15 to 20-year schedule of sewer system improvements.  The goal of meeting clean water standards underlies this improvement program.   In addition, the DPW has initiated water quality related projects to address unsewered areas and better manage stormwater and flood control There has been a significant increase in water quality related projects in order to meet water quality standards and improve safe recreational utilization of this natural amenity. Street and Sidewalk Infrastructure DPW has ongoing curb, sidewalk and resurfacing projects to allow efficient and safe movement around the Regional Center.  The Maintenance Operation Division maintains the City's infrastructure including streets, sidewalks, bridges, alleys, levees, traffic lights greenways. Technology The State of Indiana is the first state in the nation to have a very high-speed optical fiber network, called I-Light, connecting Indiana University Bloomington, IUPUI and Purdue University's West Lafayette campus.  The I-Light network is connected to the National Internet2 infrastructure and drastically increases the speed of internet access and the volume of information scientists and researchers are able to exchange.  This technology is a basis for BioCrossroads- Central Indiana Life Science Network which envisions the city as a major technology center.  Most buildings in the Regional Center are able to MAP M-5 LEGEND Electrical Substations Pogues Run Wells Wellfield Protection Area 500YearFloodplain Floodway Chilled Water Lines Regional Center Planning Area 100YearFloodplain Citizens Thermal Energy plant Greenway bridge over Fall Creek Thermal Energy infrastructure improvements White River