CITY REPORT IN 16 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Fort Wayne, IN: 16 Health Violations - 64/100

43 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Fort Wayne: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (16 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →

The systems supplying Fort Wayne vary in performance across IN benchmarks - most meet minimum federal standards, but documented violations in select areas are on record.

Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS

43
ZIP Codes
7
Water Systems
16
ZIPs with Violations
C · 64
Avg Safety Score
Zone 1
Radon Risk (High)

Key Facts for Fort Wayne Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 111 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.0027 mg/L.

Water Quality in Fort Wayne

We track home safety signals for 43 ZIP codes in Fort Wayne, Indiana. EPA community-water data is directly mapped for 16 ZIP codes and 7 water systems.

16 of 16 directly mapped ZIP records with reported violation counts (100%) have recorded EPA violations - 111 total, including 16 health-based violations.

Average Home Safety Score: C (64/100)

Water sources: Groundwater, Surface water.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 41 16
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 35 16
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 21 4
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 5 5
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 5 5

Lead Risk

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0027 mg/L
  • 0 of 16 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
  • 67% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
  • 20% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
  • Median year built: 1971
  • Most common estimated pipe material: Copper
  • Lead exposure risk score: 53/100
  • Estimated lead service line probability: 21%
  • 12 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk

With 67% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, Fort Wayne residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.

Housing Age Distribution

141,737 total housing units across 43 ZIP codes:

Era Units Share
Pre-1940 17,839 13%
1940–1949 7,446 5%
1950–1959 16,287 11%
1960–1969 18,688 13%
1970–1979 22,856 16%
1980–1989 14,862 10%
1990–1999 19,305 14%
2000–2009 14,429 10%
2010–2019 9,447 7%
2020+ 578 0%

Flood Risk

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for Fort Wayne:

  • 1,596 flood insurance claims on record
  • $14,351,177 sum of reported building, contents, and ICC payment components
  • 1,266 claims with payment data
  • 330 claims without reported payment fields
  • $11,336 average reported component sum among claims with payment data
  • Dominant rated-zone value in historical claims: AE (A/V-family)
  • 13 of 16 ZIP codes with claim-zone records have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims
  • Claim-zone values are historical insurance records, not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory

Radon Risk

Dominant EPA radon zone among 43 ZIP records with zone data: Zone 1 (High Risk)

  • Zone 1 (High): 43 ZIP codes
  • Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Neighborhoods by Safety Score

Safest Areas

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
46802 65/100 C 4
46804 65/100 C 4
46805 65/100 C 4
46807 65/100 C 4
46808 65/100 C 4
46809 65/100 C 5
46814 65/100 C 4
46815 65/100 C 4
46819 65/100 C 4
46835 65/100 C 4

Areas Needing Attention

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
46806 58/100 C 19
46803 58/100 C 19
46845 63/100 C 11
46825 64/100 C 6
46818 64/100 C 6
46816 64/100 C 9

What Fort Wayne Residents Can Do

Test Your Water

  • Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
  • Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
  • Check your ZIP code - each area in Fort Wayne has different water systems and risk levels

Filter Your Water

  • NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
  • NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
  • Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)

Test for Radon

  • Fort Wayne is in a high-risk radon area
  • Short-term radon test kits cost $10–25
  • If levels exceed 4 pCi/L, EPA recommends professional mitigation

Stay Informed

All ZIP Codes in Fort Wayne

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water safe to drink in Fort Wayne, IN?

The Home Safety Score is not a drinking-water grade. Fort Wayne has an average score of 64/100 (grade C) across 16 ZIP codes with complete current-model evidence. Separately, there are 111 recorded EPA violations across 16 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts, 16 of which are health-based. Check the specific ZIP and serving utility before drawing a water-safety conclusion.

Does Fort Wayne have lead in the water?

The average 90th-percentile lead level across Fort Wayne is 0.0027 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. 0 of 16 ZIP codes with known action-level status exceed the EPA limit. About 67% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.

Is Fort Wayne at risk for flooding?

FEMA data shows 1,596 flood insurance claim records in Fort Wayne ZIP codes, with an average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum of $11,336 among 1,266 claims with payment data. 330 claims lack reported payment fields and are not counted as zero. Among 16 ZIP codes with historical claim-zone values, 13 have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims. Claim records do not establish current property-level flood risk; check the FEMA map for a specific address.

Are there lead pipes in Fort Wayne homes?

67% of Fort Wayne housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 20% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 21%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.

What contaminants have been found in Fort Wayne water?

The most common contaminants by violation count are Stage 1 DBP Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule. Across 16 ZIP codes with directly mapped EPA water data, 16 have recorded EPA violations. Check your ZIP code report for the specific contaminants in your area.

Data Sources

Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.

Fort Wayne Infrastructure Age

1971
Median Build Year
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

Median build year of 1971 means many homes predate lead paint and lead solder regulations. Consider testing if your home has original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

Banned from residential plumbing in 1986, lead solder was a near-universal feature of copper plumbing before that cutoff. In Fort Wayne, where the median build year is 1971, the majority of housing falls into the post-ban category - though the older fraction of the stock still carries the residual risk that comes with pre-1986 pipe and solder materials.

1971
Median Year Built
0%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
0%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Most homes in Fort Wayne were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Fort Wayne: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

0.0027
mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

Lead risk in Fort Wayne appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Fort Wayne: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

1,596
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$11,336
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
81%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Fort Wayne contains 1,596 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,336. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 81% 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.

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 Fort Wayne

  1. Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
  2. Install a certified water filter. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
  3. Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Fort Wayne, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Fort Wayne, IN?
Fort Wayne has an average Home Safety Score of 64/100 (Grade C) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. 111 EPA violations have been recorded. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water violations does Fort Wayne have?
Fort Wayne water systems have a total of 111 EPA violations, including 16 health-based violations. Violations are tracked across 43 ZIP codes.
Does Fort Wayne water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Fort Wayne is 0.0027 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How many water systems serve Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne is served by 7 public water systems across 43 ZIP codes, serving approximately 333,026 people.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Fort Wayne, IN: 16 Health Violations - 64/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/in/fort-wayne/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-in-fort-wayne,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Fort Wayne, IN: 16 Health Violations - 64/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/in/fort-wayne/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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