Loading water data...
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 CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS • Updated September 2026
Grade A — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS has a clean recent record: no health-based violations in the last five years and no lead, PFAS or historical monitoring result that costs it more than a few points.
Yes — by EPA's records, Indianapolis's tap water earns a A: no health-based violations in five years, lead at 5.2 ppb (90th percentile) and only low-level PFAS (PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA). Lead from home plumbing is the main remaining risk.
By EPA's records, yes. CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS earns a A: no health-based violations in the last five years, a lead 90th-percentile result of 5.2 ppb, and PFAS (PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA) below federal limits. Lead from your own plumbing is the main risk city data cannot see.
CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2023-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 5.18 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 (2023-08-22 to 2024-08-23) detected PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA, all below federal MCLs. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS has 1 violation 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.
CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 880,345 people (EPA PWSID IN5249004).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead, PFAS and improves taste.
Want to know what's really in your Indianapolis tap water?
Lead was found at 5.2 ppb (90th percentile) in Indianapolis's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
Tap Score certified lab · Amazon. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR)Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-11-01 → 2020-11-30 | Resolvedreturned 2020-11-30 |
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 CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS
Below the action level, but detectable. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2023-01-01 to 2025-12-31), 90% of the homes CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS sampled had lead at or below 5.18 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 | 5.18 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2025-07-01 → 2025-12-31 | 4.67 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 7.7 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2022-01-01 → 2022-12-31 | 9.09 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2019-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | 7.7 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2016-01-01 → 2018-12-31 | 8.05 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2016-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | 5.64 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2013-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | 8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2012-01-01 → 2014-12-31 | 14.2 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2009-01-01 → 2009-12-31 | 10 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2008-01-01 → 2008-12-31 | 8.2 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2007-01-01 → 2007-12-31 | 10.9 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-08-22 to 2024-08-23 · 754 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA detected at low levels; no compound was at or above its federal MCL. Detections below the MCL are common in surface-water systems and are reported here exactly as EPA published them.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 26 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 26 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 26 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 26 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 26 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 3 / 26 | 4 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFBA | 2 / 26 | 5.7 | 5 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHxA | 9 / 26 | 5.1 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFPeA | 11 / 26 | 7.6 | 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 CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), Haloacetic acids (HAA5) are flagged below; the status column explains why. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 13913 detects | 0.194 µg/L | 5.6 µg/L | 10 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Nitrate (as N) | 144108 detects | 0.951 mg/L | 3.37 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 891 | 0.774 mg/L | 1.185 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 13953 detects | 0.917 µg/L | 4.4 µg/L | 100 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Uranium (combined) | 9 | 0.805 µg/L | 1.386 µg/L | 30 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Radium-226/228 | 1817 detects | 1.064 pCi/L | 1.73 pCi/L | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Gross alpha | 17 | 4.434 pCi/L | 8.8 pCi/L | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 517 | 47.503 µg/L | 98.7 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 16 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 520519 detects | 38.069 µg/L | 97.4 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 39 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Lead (tap samples) | 5545 detects | 3.743 µg/L | 35.9 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 5554 detects | 89.654 µg/L | 428 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)
CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS · 374,679 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS reports 56,961 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (15% of the lines it has inventoried), plus 39,935 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 IN5249004 · See all Indiana lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis 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.
Indianapolis ranks #23 of 32 graded Indiana cities.
By EPA's records, yes. CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS earns a A: no health-based violations in the last five years, a lead 90th-percentile result of 5.2 ppb, and PFAS (PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA) below federal limits. Lead from your own plumbing is the main risk city data cannot see.
CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2023-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 5.18 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 (2023-08-22 to 2024-08-23) detected PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA, all below federal MCLs. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS has 1 violation 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.
CITIZENS WATER - INDIANAPOLIS reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 880,345 people (EPA PWSID IN5249004).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead, PFAS and improves taste.
Lead was found at 5.2 ppb (90th percentile) in Indianapolis's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
Most Popular for Lead
Filters rated for lead reduction
Waterdrop lead collection · direct from the manufacturer
Waterdrop's lead collection — every filter here is selected for lead reduction, so you can compare options rated for this exact problem.
Shop Filters Rated for Lead →Or a specific pick on Amazon
ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher
NSF 53 certified to reduce lead & chromium — no installation, the easiest way to start protecting your water today.
Check Price on Amazon →Whole-Home Filtration System
Whole-house system — treats every tap at the source
For consistently poor water, a whole-home system filters every faucet, shower, and appliance — the permanent, install-once fix that goes beyond a single point-of-use filter.
Explore Whole-Home SystemsNot sure what filter you need?
Test your tap water first, so you filter for what's actually in it.
Shop Home Water Test Kits →We may earn a commission from Amazon and Waterdrop when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
Find the right filter for your Indianapolis water quality needs:
Understand your water better with our in-depth guides on contaminants, filtration, and water safety.