South Bend, IN: 2 Health Violations - Home Safety 48/100
17 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for South Bend: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Public water compliance in South Bend falls below the IN baseline - elevated violation rates are on record.
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 in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.006 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 76% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,665 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.43 - above typical levels.
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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 23 | 10 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 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). 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 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. 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
Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in South Bend - it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1956 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.
Over half of homes in South Bend 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 South Bend Homeowners
Property equity in South Bend sits at a moderate ratio to estimated remediation costs - a classification that reframes the household financial perspective from routine maintenance to deliberate budgeting, where most homeowners have a realistic path to addressing documented water and safety issues if they map the financial commitment against available resources before committing to scope.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in South Bend. The estimated $1,726–$3,753 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. 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 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.
Older interior plumbing shapes the local picture: 76% of South Bend homes predate the federal solder ban, and aggregate sampling either approaches or crosses the action benchmark. That mix makes a single-home draw a standard pre-purchase or pre-occupancy step.
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 <strong>$2,665</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.
What You Can Do in South Bend
- 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 Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in South Bend's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 76% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for South Bend, IN