Indiana American Water warns of algal toxins at Prairie Creek Reservoir, outlines restrictions and collaboration with Muncie

Indiana American Water told the Muncie Park and Recreation Board on May 20 that recent sampling at Prairie Creek Reservoir detected microcystin and elevated nitrates near the campground and that the company will press for changes to recreational uses to protect the reservoir as the city’s primary drinking-water source.

Wade Amos, director of operations for Indiana American Water, told the board the company values its long relationship with Muncie but must “find the balance between recreation and what the reservoir is and what it was intended to be, which is the primary drinking source for the city of Muncie.” He described addenda to a conservation and recreation agreement dating to 1961 and said some current uses around the reservoir are not consistent with the original terms.

Company water-quality lead Chris Gosnell said the utility’s source-water protection and cyanotoxin-monitoring program found early-season cyanobacteria growth in 2024 and detections of microcystin in sampling at the west-side pier and the cove just south of the campground. “We’ve not seen any detects in our finished water,” Gosnell said, adding that monitoring and treatment at the intake on the White River maintained finished-water safety for customers.

Indiana American Water provided a timeline of sampling…