Fort Wayne - 3 Rivers Filtration Plant

Fort Wayne City Utilities believes in giving back to our community through meaningful initiatives. In 2016, our employees participated in Study Connection, providing one-on-one tutoring to Fort Wayne Community Schools students needing academic support. Staff also contributed to the USA Way Day of Caring by completing service projects at Trees Indiana Nature Center and the Fort Wayne Police Department's Safety Town.

We're proud to partner with Living Water International on missions to provide clean drinking water to developing countries. In 2016, our staff and their families joined the third mission trip to Posoltega, Nicaragua, helping communities gain access to clean water which improves health, education and economic opportunities.

Our Customer Relations Center focuses on convenience and choice. In 2016, we invested in technology upgrades including a new customer account management system, enhanced online payment portal with improved security features, and a self-service payment kiosk that has significantly reduced wait times for customers.

As a community resource, City Utilities has expanded to offer services to other regional utilities. We now provide billing, engineering support, financial management, HR services, and maintenance assistance to the Allen County Regional Water and Sewer District, allowing them to focus on extending public sewers to areas with failing septic systems.

Transparency and communication remain priorities through our Utility Advisory Group (formerly Sewer Advisory Group), which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016. This citizen volunteer group facilitates conversations between City Utilities and residents, helping prioritize neighborhood improvements and supporting necessary infrastructure investments.

Our environmental initiatives include using methane produced during wastewater treatment to power the Water Quality Control Plant. This reduced energy consumption by 30.6% in the first year (October 2015-September 2016), saving $420,000 in electric bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 167,000 tons annually.

Since 2009, we've promoted rain gardens as part of our sustainable stormwater approach. These gardens hold rainwater for approximately a day, allowing it to slowly absorb into the ground, reducing runoff, preventing sewer backups, and filtering pollutants before they reach waterways.

Through strategic financial management, we've maintained investment-grade bond ratings across all utilities despite pressure from unfunded federal mandates. Our five-year rate plan, adopted in 2014, has provided predictability for customers while allowing us to take advantage of favorable market conditions, including securing a $100M loan at 2% interest through the State Revolving Fund.

1. Why does my water sometimes appear cloudy or discolored? Temporary cloudiness can result from air bubbles, while discoloration may indicate pipe maintenance in your area or mineral deposits in your home plumbing.
2. Does Fort Wayne add fluoride to the water? Yes, the 3 Rivers Filtration Plant adds fluoride to municipal water at levels recommended for dental health.
3. How often is Fort Wayne water tested? The water supply undergoes daily testing for bacteria and contaminants, with comprehensive reports published annually.
4. Should I filter my tap water? While Fort Wayne water meets safety standards, home filtration can address taste preferences or remove specific contaminants of concern to your household.