Fountain City, IN: 1 Health Violation — 66/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Unlike higher-rated cities in IN, Fountain City carries a fair number of documented violations — the pattern of compliance gaps keeps the city in the middle tier of EPA safety rankings.
How Fountain City Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Facts for Fountain City Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 14 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0014 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 84% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 15.43 — above typical levels.
Fountain City's Water Providers
Federal drinking water records identify 2 systems in Fountain City, IN. The leading 2 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations — so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Fountain City, Indiana, covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 2,513 people.
1 of 1 ZIP code (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Fountain City: C (66/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Fountain City water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0014 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 1 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 6 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Total Organic Carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47341 | C | 14 | 1 | Fountain City Water Works |
All ZIP Codes in Fountain City
- 47341 [C] — 14 violations ⚠
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
Updated daily.
Fountain City Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Fountain City's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Fountain City Infrastructure Age
With 84% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
What does a median build year of 1967 mean for water safety in Fountain City? It means the majority of the city's residential plumbing was installed before 1986, when lead solder was federally banned, and a large share may predate 1970, when lead pipes were commonly used — making plumbing age a central variable in household-level lead risk across much of the city.
Over half of homes in Fountain City were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Fountain City
The household financial perspective in Fountain City reflects a moderate cost-to-value ratio — an equity share that is not trivially small but remains within the range where most homeowners can address documented water and safety issues by treating the expense as a real line item in property planning rather than a discretionary one.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Fountain City. The estimated $1,750–$3,900 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 11% below the Indiana average.
Fountain City: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 84% of the Fountain City inventory was built in that earlier era — a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Fountain City: Flood History & Water Damage Risk
Flood activity in Fountain City is neither negligible nor at the level of the highest-exposure areas in the NFIP dataset. The 3-claim record and 100% flood zone coverage suggest a community that has experienced recurrent events but has not faced the kind of sustained, severe exposure where water-supply contamination becomes a primary public health concern. It sits in a middle range where flood history merits inclusion in any complete local water quality picture.
Fountain City has a moderate flood history with 3 FEMA claims averaging $1,210 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,700</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Fountain City
- 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.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Surface Water Treatment Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Fountain City's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 84% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Fountain City, IN