Indiana Water Report Card: Worst Water Systems
The most contaminated public water systems in Indiana, ranked by PFAS levels, lead, and EPA violations from official EPA data.
Quick Answer
South Bend Water Works has the highest PFAS in Indiana at 39.7 ppt (10x the EPA limit). Grabill Water Works has the highest lead at 39 ppb. The tables below rank the worst systems in each category so you can see how your water compares.
Highest PFAS Levels in Indiana
Public water systems in Indiana with the highest peak PFAS ("forever chemical") reading in EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025). The EPA enforceable limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt.
| # | Water System | Location | Peak PFAS (ppt) | Compounds | vs 4 ppt limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Bend Water Works | South Bend · 115,000 served | 39.7 | 8 | 10x |
| 2 | New Pekin Water Utility | Pekin · 2,150 served | 22.3 | 1 | 6x |
| 3 | Speedway Water Works | Speedway · 10,578 served | 18 | 2 | 5x |
| 4 | Mount Vernon Water Works | Mount Vernon · 6,426 served | 17.4 | 2 | 4x |
| 5 | Purdue Univ. Water Works | West Lafayette · 50,000 served | 17.4 | 6 | 4x |
| 6 | Columbus Municipal Utility | Columbus · 51,122 served | 16.3 | 4 | 4x |
| 7 | Marysville Otisco Nabb Water Corp. | Marysville · 6,813 served | 14.5 | 1 | 4x |
| 8 | Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. | Columbus · 8,652 served | 14.1 | 4 | 4x |
| 9 | Indiana American Water - Charlestown | Greenwood · 8,658 served | 13.4 | 1 | 3x |
| 10 | Brown County Water Utility | Morgantown · 15,368 served | 12.9 | 2 | 3x |
| 11 | Pike-Gibson Water, Inc. | Oakland City · 10,000 served | 11.6 | 4 | 3x |
| 12 | Elkhart Public Works And Utilities | Elkhart · 46,455 served | 9.8 | 6 | 2x |
Highest Lead Levels in Indiana
Community water systems in Indiana with the highest 90th-percentile lead result under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. The EPA action level is 15 ppb; there is no safe level of lead for children.
| # | Water System | Location | Lead 90th-pctile (ppb) | vs 15 ppb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grabill Water Works | Grabill · 1,163 served | 39 | 2.6x over |
| 2 | Fairmount Water Works | Fairmount · 2,756 served | 27.2 | 1.8x over |
| 3 | Holland Water Works | Holland · 1,200 served | 26 | 1.7x over |
| 4 | New Castle Utilities | New Castle · 19,880 served | 25.1 | 1.7x over |
| 5 | Remington Water Works | Remington · 1,182 served | 24 | 1.6x over |
| 6 | Peru Water Department | Peru · 11,417 served | 18.6 | 1.2x over |
| 7 | Fort Wayne - 3 Rivers Filtration Plant | Fort Wayne · 269,994 served | 18.4 | 1.2x over |
| 8 | Rensselaer Water Department | Rensselaer · 6,200 served | 17.6 | 1.2x over |
| 9 | Tri-County Conservancy District | Camby · 3,078 served | 16.9 | 1.1x over |
| 10 | Maysville Region. Water & Sewer District | Harlan · 1,634 served | 15.5 | 1.0x over |
| 11 | Cedar Lake Water Works | Cedar Lake · 4,600 served | 14.5 | within |
| 12 | Columbia City Water Department | Columbia City · 9,892 served | 14 | within |
Most EPA Violations in Indiana
Community water systems in Indiana with the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
| # | Water System | Location | Health-based violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scottsburg Water Department | Scottsburg · 7,369 served | 40 |
| 2 | Salem Water Works | Salem · 8,200 served | 31 |
| 3 | North Vernon Water Department | North Vernon · 6,500 served | 26 |
| 4 | Montezuma Municipal Utility | Montezuma · 1,022 served | 20 |
| 5 | Oolitic Water Works | Oolitic · 1,315 served | 19 |
| 6 | Stucker Fork Water Utility | Scottsburg · 19,120 served | 18 |
| 7 | Westport Water Company | Westport · 1,300 served | 17 |
| 8 | East Washington Rural Water | Salem · 8,613 served | 16 |
| 9 | Poseyville Municipal Water Department | Poseyville · 1,400 served | 11 |
| 10 | Lynnville Water Works | Lynnville · 1,200 served | 11 |
| 11 | Greensburg Municipal Water Works | Greensburg · 12,650 served | 7 |
| 12 | Posey Township Water Corp. | Hardinsburg · 3,500 served | 7 |
How This Report Card Is Built
PFAS rankings use EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), showing each system's peak detection above the 4 ppt EPA limit. Lead rankings use the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results. Violation counts come from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and count health-based violations. Lead and violation lists are limited to community water systems serving 1,000 or more people. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most PFAS-contaminated water system in Indiana?
In EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025), South Bend Water Works in South Bend had the highest recorded PFAS level in Indiana at 39.7 ppt - about 10x the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS.
Which Indiana water system has the highest lead levels?
Grabill Water Works in Grabill had the highest 90th-percentile lead result in Indiana under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule at 39 ppb - 2.6x the 15 ppb action level.
Which Indiana water system has the most EPA violations?
Scottsburg Water Department in Scottsburg has the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record in Indiana, with 40 violations.
Where does the Indiana water report card data come from?
PFAS figures come from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), lead from the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results, and violations from EPA SDWIS health-based violation records. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water. Check your exact address at knowyourexposure.com.
What Indiana Residents Should Do
- Look up your exact address at knowyourexposure.com for your system's data
- See the full Indiana water quality overview
- If your system is listed, a certified filter (reverse osmosis for PFAS, NSF-53 for lead) reduces exposure at the tap. See the best water filters.