The City of Lafayette is looking for greater water capacity, in case future growth requires it.
The city can pump 24 million gallons of water per day now, even though homes and businesses use only about 10 million.
Still, Lafayette is testing the water supply under the old Aretz Field, north of State Road 25 and Interstate 65.
The search for water at the old airport began a few years ago. In 2010, the city acquired 16 acres at the southeast corner of the property.
Exploratory drilling indicated there was adequate water underground. Now, further testing will determine just how much may be available.
The director of the Water Works Department says the estimate is between five and eight million gallons per day. Several wells for testing and monitoring will be drilled there over the next month and an accurate capacity should be known by the end of the year. The hydrogeologist firm Eagon and Associates will do the work for $103,906.