Gary, IN: 3 Violations - Home Safety 75/100
8 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Gary: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Across Gary, IN, the overall grade falls in the upper range - a summary score, not a measurement taken at any single tap.
How Gary Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Gary, IN
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Gary score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Gary Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 3 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 91% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 14.49.
Who Supplies Your Water in Gary
The 2 largest of 2 systems connected with Gary, IN are listed below.
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Gary, Indiana (population ~73,224), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 227,403 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 7 of 8 ZIP codes.
2 of 7 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (29%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Gary: B (75/100)
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
Gary water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0030 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 7 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
8 of 8 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | 2 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | 2 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46406 | B | 3 | 0 | Indiana American Water - Northwest |
| 46408 | B | 3 | 0 | Indiana American Water - Northwest |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46402 | B | Indiana American Water - Northwest | 210,510 |
| 46403 | B | Indiana American Water - Northwest | 210,510 |
| 46404 | B | Indiana American Water - Northwest | 210,510 |
| 46407 | B | Indiana American Water - Northwest | 210,510 |
| 46409 | B | Indiana American Water - Northwest | 210,510 |
All ZIP Codes in Gary
- 46401
- 46402 [B]
- 46403 [B]
- 46404 [B]
- 46406 [B] - 3 violations
- 46407 [B]
- 46408 [B] - 3 violations
- 46409 [B]
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 Gary
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 Gary Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Gary
With 91% 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
Ask the water utility whether your address in Gary has a lead service line; its inventory can answer what a median build year of 1950 cannot.
Over half of homes in Gary 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.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Gary
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 Gary
Historical NFIP data for Gary contains 107 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,280. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 33% 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Gary, IN