Lafayette, IN: 12 Health Violations — 62/100 (2026)
6 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
For most households in Lafayette, IN tap water is adequate — the middle-tier grade reflects gaps in specific service areas.
How Lafayette Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Lafayette, IN
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of water safety grades across Lafayette.
Lafayette Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 84 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0038 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 68% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.03.
Water Systems Serving Lafayette
Residential water service in Lafayette, IN is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 8 systems on file with federal regulators.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Lafayette, Indiana, covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 105,762 people.
6 of 6 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 12 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Lafayette: C (62/100)
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
Lafayette water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0038 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)
- Zone 1 (High): 6 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.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 42 | 6 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 21 | 6 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 14 | 6 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 14 | 6 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 7 | 6 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47901 | C | 14 | 2 | Lafayette Water Works |
| 47902 | C | 14 | 2 | Lafayette Water Works |
| 47903 | C | 14 | 2 | Lafayette Water Works |
| 47904 | C | 14 | 2 | Lafayette Water Works |
| 47905 | C | 14 | 2 | Lafayette Water Works |
| 47909 | C | 14 | 2 | Lafayette Water Works |
All ZIP Codes in Lafayette
- 47901 [C] — 14 violations ⚠
- 47902 [C] — 14 violations ⚠
- 47903 [C] — 14 violations ⚠
- 47904 [C] — 14 violations ⚠
- 47905 [C] — 14 violations ⚠
- 47909 [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.
CDC Health Data for Lafayette
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Lafayette
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Lafayette's Housing Stock?
With 68% 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
The lead that enters tap water in older homes often comes not from the municipal supply but from the home's own plumbing — from solder used in copper joints before the 1986 federal ban, or from lead pipes installed before 1970. In Lafayette, where the median build year is 1957, these older materials are widespread. More than half the residential stock predates the 1986 solder ban, and a significant fraction predates 1970 as well. For residents in those homes, the city-wide water quality picture is a less relevant frame than the specific materials inside their own walls and under their own street.
Over half of homes in Lafayette 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.
Lafayette: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Homeowners in Lafayette are working with a moderate equity share for documented remediation — the commitment deserves a line in the household budget, not dismissal.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Lafayette. The estimated $1,683–$3,717 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 21% above the Indiana average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Lafayette
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.
Locally, 68% of Lafayette homes carry interior plumbing from the era when lead solder was still permitted in new builds, and citywide monitoring approaches or crosses the EPA action benchmark. Households can find a draw-test kit and certified filtration through verified retailers.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Lafayette
Flood history in Lafayette spans 93 NFIP claims and 83% flood zone coverage — enough to place it in moderate-exposure territory where flood events are genuinely recurring rather than statistical outliers. That distinction matters for water quality assessment because the connection between flooding and water safety is not uniform across communities. In low-exposure areas, flooding rarely generates the conditions needed to compromise treatment or distribution infrastructure. In high-exposure areas, it can do so repeatedly. Moderate-exposure communities sit in between: flood events occur with enough frequency to make periodic infrastructure stress a reasonable concern, particularly for private well owners and residents in lower-elevation FEMA-designated zones.
Lafayette has a moderate flood history with 93 FEMA claims averaging $10,746 per payout. 83% 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>$2,600</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 Lafayette
- 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 Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Lafayette's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 68% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lafayette, IN