COUNTY REPORT IN

St. Joseph County, Indiana

27 ZIP codes · Avg score 59/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

The systems supplying St. Joseph County's 27 ZIP codes vary in performance — most meet minimum standards, but violations in select areas are on record.

How St. Joseph County Compares

St. Joseph County59/100
Indiana avg60/100
National avg68/100

How St. Joseph County Compares

C
County Grade
59/100
Avg Safety Score
27
ZIP Codes
16
Water Systems

St. Joseph County scores 1 points below the Indiana state average (60/100) and 9 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
59
Avg Safety Score
27
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 46530 (69/100)
Lowest ZIP: 46595 (40/100)
$175K
Median Home Value
$2,478
Avg Remediation (142% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: St. Joseph County, Indiana

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 13.5 (asthma 11.1%, diabetes 13%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,135, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.425% avg pipe failure probability, 56% of ZIPs at high risk

70.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across St. Joseph County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
17 (17 health)
2024
17 (17 health)

Peak year: 2021 with 17 violations. Past 5 years: 34 total (34 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.1% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 35.4% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1962
Median Build Year
70.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
43%
Pipe Failure Probability
56%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,135

Sea Level Rise $385/yr
Flood $326/yr
Energy Code Gap $237/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

113,630 housing units in St. Joseph County

Pre-1940 18%
1940–1959 24%
1960–1979 23%
1980–1999 22%
2000+ 13%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in St. Joseph County

$175K
Median Home Value
$2,478
Est. Remediation Cost
1.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in St. Joseph County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for St. Joseph County residents

Asthma 11.1% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 35.4% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in St. Joseph County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 South Bend Water Works 115,000 267
2 Clearwater Village Mobile Home Park 400 238
3 Sunset Village & Rv Park 25 238
4 Mishawaka Utilities 49,675 57
5 University of Notre Dame 7,400 32

16 total water systems serve St. Joseph County.

All ZIP Codes in St. Joseph County

27 ZIP codes tracked in St. Joseph County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 46530 Granger 69 C 3 $317K
2 46554 North Liberty 68 C 2 $189K
3 46601 South Bend 65 C 14 (2 health) $132K
4 46615 South Bend 65 C 14 (2 health) $128K
5 46617 South Bend 65 C 14 (2 health) $231K
6 46619 South Bend 65 C 14 (2 health) $98K
7 46536 Lakeville 64 C 2 $208K
8 46552 New Carlisle 60 C 12 $212K
9 46604 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health)
10 46613 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health) $71K
11 46614 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health) $175K
12 46616 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health) $136K
13 46624 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health)
14 46626 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health)
15 46628 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health) $165K
16 46634 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health)
17 46635 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health) $193K
18 46637 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health) $192K
19 46660 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health)
20 46680 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health)
21 46699 South Bend 60 C 14 (2 health)
22 46556 Notre Dame 55 C 4
23 46544 Mishawaka 50 D 4 $151K
24 46545 Mishawaka 50 D 4 $175K
25 46546 Mishawaka 48 D 4
26 46365 Mill Creek 40 D 0 $178K
27 46595 Wyatt 40 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for St. Joseph County

Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.

Overview

St. Joseph County in Indiana covers 27 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (59/100).

25 of 27 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 34 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Indiana water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in St. Joseph County?
St. Joseph County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve St. Joseph County?
St. Joseph County is served by 16 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 27 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in St. Joseph County?
The primary environmental risk factor in St. Joseph County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,135 per homeowner.
How old are homes in St. Joseph County?
The median home build year in St. Joseph County is 1962. 70.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does St. Joseph County compare to Indiana?
St. Joseph County has an average water safety score of 59/100, which is below the Indiana state average of 60/100.

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