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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES • Updated September 2026
Grade B — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES is in good standing with EPA, with only minor deductions for monitoring paperwork, low-level PFAS or historical readings near a limit.
Yes — by EPA's records, Elkhart's tap water earns a B: no health-based violations in five years, lead at 2 ppb (90th percentile) and only low-level PFAS (PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFPeA). Lead from home plumbing is the main remaining risk.
By EPA's records, yes. ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES earns a B: no health-based violations in the last five years, a lead 90th-percentile result of 2 ppb, and PFAS (PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFPeA) below federal limits. Lead from your own plumbing is the main risk city data cannot see.
ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2023-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2024-07-01 to 2025-01-02) detected PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFPeA, with PFOA or PFOS at or above the 4 ppt federal MCL. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES has 5 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 46,455 people (EPA PWSID IN5220008).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
Want to know what's really in your Elkhart tap water?
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in Elkhart's UCMR5 sampling.
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ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-07
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample Siting Plan Errors (RTCR)Revised Total Coliform Rule | Other | 2023-07-11 | Resolvedreturned 2023-08-07 |
| Monitoring, RegularNitrate | Monitoring & reporting | 2021-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2021-12-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularNitrate | Monitoring & reporting | 2021-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2021-12-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularNitrate | Monitoring & reporting | 2021-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2021-12-31 |
| Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/RLead and Copper Rule | Monitoring & reporting | 2019-10-01 | Resolvedreturned 2019-11-13 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2023-01-01 to 2025-12-31), 90% of the homes ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES sampled had lead at or below 2 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-01 → 2025-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2020-01-01 → 2022-12-31 | 4.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2017-01-01 → 2019-12-31 | 9.3 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2014-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | 11.2 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2011-01-01 → 2013-12-31 | 4.3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 4.9 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2007-01-01 → 2009-12-31 | 8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2004-01-01 → 2006-12-31 | 6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2001-01-01 → 2003-12-31 | 8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1998-01-01 → 1998-12-31 | 9 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1997-01-01 → 1997-12-31 | 10 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1996-01-01 → 1996-12-31 | 10 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Copper 90th percentile: 1.4 mg/L (1994-07-01 → 1994-12-31); action level 1.3 mg/L.
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2024-07-01 to 2025-01-02 · 174 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
PFOA measured at or above EPA's legal limit in at least one sample. Utilities have until 2029 (2031 under EPA's proposed extension) to comply with the 2024 PFAS rule, so a result above the MCL today is not yet a violation — but it is the number that matters for your health.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 1 / 6 | 5.2 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 4 / 6 | 8.8 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 6 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 4 / 6 | 9.8 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFBA | 1 / 6 | 7.5 | 5 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHxA | 2 / 6 | 5.5 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFPeA | 2 / 6 | 8.3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them → · Best filters for PFAS →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Every scored contaminant stayed within its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and averaged below 80% of the limit. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 181 detects | 0.067 µg/L | 1.2 µg/L | 10 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Nitrate (as N) | 27 | 1.085 mg/L | 2.5 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 12 | 0.95 mg/L | 1.2 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 183 detects | 0.233 µg/L | 1.5 µg/L | 100 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Uranium (combined) | 31 detects | 0.333 µg/L | 1 µg/L | 30 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Gross alpha | 30 detects | 0 pCi/L | ND | 15 pCi/LMCL | Not detected |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 97 | 27.061 µg/L | 61.4 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 97 | 11.869 µg/L | 26.4 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Lead (tap samples) | 9847 detects | 3.526 µg/L | 37 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 98 | 305.398 µg/L | 1900 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES · 33,996 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES reports 21,085 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (62% of the lines it has inventoried), plus 1,293 lines whose material is still unknown. A lead service line is the pipe between the water main and a building, so treated water can pick up lead after it leaves the plant — which city-level testing does not capture. Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, utilities must replace lead lines within 10 years starting in 2027.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID IN5220008 · See all Indiana lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Groundwater systems draw from wells; naturally occurring arsenic, nitrate, radium and uranium are the readings to watch, along with PFAS near industrial or military sites.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Elkhart homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Elkhart faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Elkhart households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Elkhart ranks #26 of 32 graded Indiana cities.
By EPA's records, yes. ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES earns a B: no health-based violations in the last five years, a lead 90th-percentile result of 2 ppb, and PFAS (PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFPeA) below federal limits. Lead from your own plumbing is the main risk city data cannot see.
ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2023-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2024-07-01 to 2025-01-02) detected PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFPeA, with PFOA or PFOS at or above the 4 ppt federal MCL. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES has 5 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
ELKHART PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 46,455 people (EPA PWSID IN5220008).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in Elkhart's UCMR5 sampling.
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