Gary, IN: 3 Violations - Home Safety 75/100
8 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Gary: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Although water quality varies across any metro, Gary's systems collectively post above-average compliance scores for IN - and documented violations are few.
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 in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 91% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,300 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.49 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Gary
Water service in Gary, IN is split across 2 utilities out of 2 tracked federally, each operating its own infrastructure and compliance record.
- 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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 8 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | 2 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 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). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
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. 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
While newer cities carry lower aggregate plumbing risk from lead-era construction, Gary sits firmly in the older category. The median build year of 1950 indicates that more than half the housing stock was built before 1986, when lead solder was still legally used in residential copper plumbing - and a substantial portion likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines. These two thresholds together define the elevated plumbing risk environment that older housing cities carry, independent of what the municipal water supply delivers to the meter.
Over half of homes in Gary 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Gary Homeowners
For most Gary homeowners, estimated remediation represents a moderate equity share - manageable with planning.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Gary. The estimated $600–$2,150 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 52% below the Indiana average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Gary
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.
Households with kids in the home - for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure - face a specific local picture in Gary. 91% of homes here come from the pre-rule era, and aggregate utility samples either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L. A baseline draw-test kit and certified lead-removal filtration are available via retailer networks for households confirming conditions at a specific tap.
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. The <strong>$1,300</strong> 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Gary, IN