South Bend, IN: 2 Health Violations - Home Safety 48/100
17 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for South Bend: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
On the A-F scale ZipCheckup uses, South Bend, IN rates a D or an F.
How South Bend Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: South Bend, IN
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in South Bend score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About South Bend Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 57 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.006 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 76% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $621 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.43.
Who Supplies Your Water in South Bend
Federal records list 6 water systems tied to South Bend, IN. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 17 ZIP codes in South Bend, Indiana, covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 148,800 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 10 of 17 ZIP codes.
10 of 10 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for South Bend: D (48/100)
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
South Bend water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0060 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 10 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
17 of 17 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
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 | 23 | 10 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 12 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46614 | F | 53 | 2 | South Bend Water Works |
| 46637 | D | 5 | 0 | South Bend Water Works |
| 46617 | D | 4 | 0 | South Bend Water Works |
| 46601 | D | 1 | 0 | South Bend Water Works |
| 46613 | D | 1 | 0 | South Bend Water Works |
| 46615 | D | 1 | 0 | South Bend Water Works |
| 46616 | D | 1 | 0 | South Bend Water Works |
| 46619 | D | 1 | 0 | South Bend Water Works |
| 46628 | D | 1 | 0 | South Bend Water Works |
| 46635 | D | 1 | 0 | South Bend Water Works |
All ZIP Codes in South Bend
- 46601 [D] - 1 violation
- 46604
- 46613 [D] - 1 violation
- 46614 [F] - 53 violations ⚠
- 46615 [D] - 1 violation
- 46616 [D] - 1 violation
- 46617 [D] - 4 violations
- 46619 [D] - 1 violation
- 46624
- 46626
- 46628 [D] - 1 violation
- 46634
- 46635 [D] - 1 violation
- 46637 [D] - 5 violations
- 46660
- 46680
- 46699
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 South Bend
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 South Bend Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in South Bend
With 76% 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
Lead can reach tap water from service lines, solder and brass fittings inside a building, which is why housing age draws attention in South Bend, where the median build year is 1956.
Over half of homes in South Bend 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for South Bend Homeowners
Of the three cost-context tiers - low, moderate and elevated - South Bend is in the low one.
Estimated remediation costs in South Bend can be compared with local home values. The $411–$843 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 8% below the Indiana average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in South Bend
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 South Bend
Historical NFIP data for South Bend contains 102 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,355. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 78% 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 $621 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.
What You Can Do in South Bend
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Revised Total Coliform Rule, listed in the water-quality records for South Bend: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 76% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for South Bend, IN