Map
The Broad Ripple Gazette
Vol. 13 No. 8
Including the Cultural Districts and Midtown: Meridian-Kessler, Butler-Tarkington, and Meridian St.
page 18
Crossword page 15
Apr 15 - Apr 28, 2016
The art deco entrance of the White River Treatment Plant where the canal water is processed for the City of Indianapolis.
Everything you always wanted to know about the canal... By Alan Hague
Indianapolis Public Library Seed Library
alan@broadripplegazette.com
Part Fourteen
By Mario Morone
For those readers just discovering this series on the canal now in its 14th part, I will explain why the canal is important and why the Gazette is doing this series. The dam that created the Central Canal was built on the White River in 1836 and the Town of Broad Ripple grew up around it. It is why we are here today. For years the canal has supplied the City of Indianapolis with 60% of its fresh water which is processed for our clean water supply.
That wraps up all of the questions about the canal itself. Next we talked about how that canal water is processed to supply Indianapolis with fresh water. Mario Morone, writer for the Broad Ripple Gazette, asked, “In the times you’ve spent with the water company has technology changed dramatically in the way you process water, manage it, and operations in general?” Ed Malone, Director of Water Production for Citizens, replied, “No, technology has not...but yes, regulations have changed dramatically in my career here. The regulatory requirements for the water treatment process have significantly changed. I’ve been here for over 30 years.” I followed up, “Is that due to the introduction of new chemicals that are getting dumped [into the river, and get into the canal]?” Ed answered, “Well, yes and no. Technology has allowed us to be able to differentiate or see what’s in the water to a much more detailed level. And as we have the ability to monitor or analyze those things then we are also able to determine what the effects are of those things. Our treatment processes have been asked to respond accordingly. So, yes. There’s been significant change, particularly related to turbidity, how clear the water is that we produce. And then related to chlorine, not only just to the chlorine residual (the amount left in the drinking water), but the effects that chlorine can have on the water. Chlorine is a two-sided sword. It is very beneficial in that it can remove things - meaning viruses, inactivation of viruses, what not. But also it can form disinfection byproducts which can cause health concerns, so there’s a Original Indianapolis Water Company tile work in the fine line. And then UV (ultravestibule of the plant. violet treatment) came in because of the issues that happened in Milwaukee and other areas of the nation where cryto and giardia were not being removed effectively in some treatment operations. So, we now use UV to basically neutralize the crypto and giardia if it were to get past our treatment barriers, sedimentation filtration, and such. So, yes, the regulations
mario@broadripplegazette.com A unique program has taken root at the Glendale branch of the Indianapolis Public Library: the IndyPL Seed Library, where individuals can learn about growing various foods. Program coordinator Melissa Wooton explained, “This is our second season. We open in April where patrons can come in and check out seeds, take them home and plant them in their garden.” Mrs. Wooton discussed her involvement with the IndyPL Seed Library. “One of our patrons, Jo Ann Klooz, is a master gardener and a library patron. She came to me in the fall of 2004, asking about a seed co-operative. She was also interested in starting a seed library. To me, it sounded like a good idea and it also sounded like an idea that our patrons would be interested in. By the end of last year, there were 1,568 seeds that people had taken home to plant. We purchased quite a bit of them. We received a small grant from the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation and have a lot of community partners, like Fall Creek Gardens, Purdue Extension and Indy Urban Acres. We also accept donated seed. People seem to like it. We ask people to limit themselves to five seed packets at a time. We’re just giving them a chance to try it out. The idea is not to stock anybody’s garden, but to let people try to grow their own food. We have master gardeners who volunteer for the program who are from Purdue Extension on hand to answer questions. The program runs from April to October.” Indianapolis Public Library Communications Specialist Jon Barnes said, “It features not only special ongoing programs for gardeners and horticulturists, but also a variety of actual seeds.” According to their website, www.indypl.org/IndyPL_SeedLibrary, the Seed Library is located at the Glendale branch and is free and open to the public. It is available during regular branch hours from late March through October. They provide seeds for check-out as well as education and resources about growing and saving seeds and organic gardening. The vast majority of the seeds are open pollinated. Many of them are also organic or heirloom seeds. More information can be found about the IndyPL Seeds Library and all related programs, including a seeds growing database and sponsor page. Future IndyPL Seed Library Master Gardeners Series seminars at the Glendale Branch are scheduled for Saturday, April 23 at 11:30 a.m. and May 14 at 2:00 p.m. A session on “Harvesting & Using Your Herbs” will germinate on August 23 at 6 p.m. People can learn about a variety of topics from Purdue Extension Master Gardeners that will feature the IndyPL Seed Library Resource Fair. A Master Gardener class, “Harvesting & Using your Herbs” is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23 at 6 p.m. Registration is welcome, but not required, by calling 317274-4410 at the Glendale Branch.
INDEX
See CANAL pg. 3 1 IndyPL Seed Library
5 BR Brewpub Quiz
8 Round the Ripple
10 BR Farmers Market
14 Gettin’ Ripped in Ripple
1 Canal part 14
6 Classified Ads
9 Wine Scene Jill A. Ditmire
12 WIN BR Art Fair tickets
14 Random Rippling recycle
2 Random Rippling Draw It
6 Public Notices
9 Random Rippling Petite
12 Hidden History / Sudoku
15 Directory
3 Calendar
7 Local Contacts
9 Where in the Village?
13 Random Rippling Jami
16 Maps
4 Poetic Thoughts
7 Mistakes winner
10 Random Rippling Vasha
13 Historic Ad
19 Right in my Own Backyard
4 Buzzing Around Town
8 Random Rippling detailing
10 Random Rippling hair
13 Crossword
20 Random Rippling Wakefield