Elkhart, IN: 18 Violations - Home Safety 47/100
4 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Elkhart: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
A low grade for Elkhart, IN is a reason to open the report for your ZIP code and see which factors pull the score down.
How Elkhart Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Elkhart Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 18 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0029 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 70% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 14.67.
Who Supplies Your Water in Elkhart
Service in Elkhart, IN can differ by address: 5 water systems are tied to the area in federal records, and the 3 largest are listed with their violation records.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Elkhart, Indiana, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 98,877 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 4 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Elkhart: D (47/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Elkhart water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0029 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
4 of 4 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 12 | 3 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 6 | 3 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46516 | D | 17 | 0 | Elkhart Public Works and Utilities |
| 46514 | D | 5 | 0 | Elkhart Public Works and Utilities |
| 46517 | D | 5 | 0 | Elkhart Public Works and Utilities |
All ZIP Codes in Elkhart
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Elkhart
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Elkhart Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Elkhart
With 70% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
If you live in one of the pre-1986 homes in Elkhart, a certified lab test for lead is the direct way to learn what your tap delivers; the median build year of 1972 is only context.
Over half of homes in Elkhart were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Elkhart Homeowners
Relative to home values, Elkhart remediation estimates run low.
Estimated remediation costs in Elkhart can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 6% below the Indiana average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Elkhart
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Elkhart
Historical NFIP data for Elkhart contains 235 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $9,993. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 67% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $500 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Elkhart
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Nitrate, listed in the water-quality records for Elkhart: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 70% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Elkhart, IN