Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Indianapolis, IN tap water
32 contaminants were measured in the Indianapolis, IN water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 32
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- pH
- Service area
- IN
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
4 PFAS compounds detected in Indianapolis, IN
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (18 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Indianapolis, IN's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 89 sources.
Source
- WELL #45 - HWF5R
- WELL #44 - HWF2
- WELL #43 - HWF1
- WELL #48 - HWF11
- + 85 more
Treatment
- TREATMENT PLANT #9 - HARBOR PLANT
- TREATMENT PLANT #4 - WHITE R NORTH (GW)
- TREATMENT PLANT #1 - WHITE RIVER
- + 7 more
Distribution
Also buys water from ANDERSON WATER DEPARTMENT.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
2 contaminants historically over EPA limits in Indianapolis, IN
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
HAA5 worst: 2013 | 0.0974 mg/L 1.6× | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TTHM worst: 2012 | 0.0987 mg/L 1.2× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
ATRAZINE worst: 2012 | 0.0028 mg/L 93% 2.8× the national p90 | 0.003 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DEHP worst: 2018 | 0.00484 mg/L 81% | 0.006 mg/L | '16'17'18'19 |
GROSS ALPHA worst: 2016 | 8.8 pCi/L within | 15 pCi/L | '16'19 |
ARSENIC worst: 2012 | 0.0056 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.01 mg/L | '12'13'15'16'17'18 |
BENZO A PYRENE worst: 2018 | 0.0001 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.0002 mg/L | '15'18 |
SIMAZINE worst: 2014 | 0.0018 mg/L within | 0.004 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
RADIUM 226 228 worst: 2019 | 1.73 pCi/L within below national p90 | 5 pCi/L | '16'19 |
NITRATE worst: 2016 | 3.37 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2016 | 3.37 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
VINYL CHLORIDE worst: 2012 | 0.0006 mg/L within | 0.002 mg/L | '12 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2015 | 1.19 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BARIUM worst: 2015 | 0.3 mg/L within above national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DICHLOROPROPANE 12 worst: 2015 | 0.0005 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.005 mg/L | '15 |
ANTIMONY worst: 2016 | 0.0006 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.006 mg/L | '16 |
CHROMIUM worst: 2017 | 0.0044 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.1 mg/L | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TWOFOURD worst: 2019 | 0.00203 mg/L within above national p90 | 0.07 mg/L | '12'13'15'16'19 |
CIS DICHLOROETHYLENE 12 worst: 2012 | 0.001 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.07 mg/L | '12'14 |
TOLUENE worst: 2018 | 0.0015 mg/L within | 1 mg/L | '15'16'18 |
XYLENES TOTAL worst: 2015 | 0.0026 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '15'16 |
URANIUM worst: 2016 | 0.00139 ug/L within below national p90 | 30 ug/L | '16 |
SILVEX worst: 2019 | 0.00121 mg/L above national p90 | — | '19 |
COPPER worst: 2018 | 0.428 mg/L below national p90 | — | '18 |
LEAD worst: 2018 | 0.0359 mg/L | — | '18 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.018 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0011 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0569 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0055 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.7AverageSystem-wide | 6.5MCL | At or above the limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.04 NTUAverageSystem-wide | 100 NTUTreatment technique | Within the limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 366 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 4.1 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 2AverageSystem-wide | 4MRDLG | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 2.2MaximumMaximum of All Samples | 5MCL | Within the limit |
| Cryptosporidium | 0.5AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | Not detectedAverageSystem-wide | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
| Giardia lamblia | 4.7AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0.11 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 0.3 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 42 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 200 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0.0051 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 0.05 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.8 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 100 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | 12 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 5000 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected ug/LMaximumMaximum of All Samples | None set | None detected |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 44 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| XylenesA group of industrial solvents found in gasoline and paint. | 3 ug/LMaximumMaximum of All Samples | 10 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.7AverageSystem-wide | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Indianapolis, IN's water
+Is Indianapolis, IN tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Indianapolis, IN water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: pH. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Indianapolis, IN tap water?
32 contaminants were measured in Indianapolis, IN's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and microbial. 25 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Indianapolis, IN tap water?
One contaminant in Indianapolis, IN's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: pH (1.2× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Indianapolis, IN tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is pH, at 1.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the physical & aggregate family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Indianapolis, IN's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Indianapolis, IN's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.