Hammond, IN: 20 Violations - Home Safety 71/100
5 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Hammond: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Within Hammond, IN, the available records add up to an upper-tier grade; that grade describes records, not the water at a given faucet.
How Hammond Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Hammond Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 20 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0042 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 92% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 14.49.
Water Systems Serving Hammond
Sorted by reported population served, the top 3 of 4 public water systems mapped to Hammond, IN appear below, each with its own federal compliance record.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in Hammond, Indiana (population ~69,511), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 339,158 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 5 ZIP codes.
4 of 4 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 Hammond: B (71/100)
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
Hammond water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0042 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
5 of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 12 | 4 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 7 | 4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate | Organic | 5 | 4 |
| Simazine | Organic | 5 | 4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | Organic | 5 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46320 | B | 16 | 0 | Hammond Water Works Department |
| 46324 | C | 11 | 0 | Hammond Water Works Department |
| 46323 | B | 7 | 0 | Hammond Water Works Department |
| 46327 | B | 7 | 0 | Hammond Water Works Department |
All ZIP Codes in Hammond
- 46320 [B] - 16 violations
- 46323 [B] - 7 violations
- 46324 [C] - 11 violations
- 46325
- 46327 [B] - 7 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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Hammond
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Hammond
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Hammond's Housing Stock?
With 92% 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
Plumbing risk in older housing is tied to the period before 1986, when lead pipes and lead solder were still permitted in new plumbing. Hammond's median build year is 1951, and properties from before that year might still contain lead-bearing joints or pipes. Much of that risk sits inside individual properties, which city-level water quality averages don't capture.
Over half of homes in Hammond 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.
Protecting Children from Lead in Hammond
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 Flood-Claim Evidence for Hammond
Historical NFIP data for Hammond contains 389 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $4,545. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 75% 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 Hammond, IN