Carmel Water Department
EPA ID: IN5229004 · 99,927 people served · 10 ZIP codes
Five-year compliance data for Carmel Water Department includes 9 violations the EPA has not yet marked resolved — those open findings are part of the utility's current enforcement profile, covering a service population of approximately 99,927 residents across the area it supplies.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 16 (2021) to 15 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Carmel Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Carmel Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $104,000 and an estimated 260,879 residents across its service area.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Carmel Water Department's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Hamilton County, Indiana rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Carmel Water Department compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 8 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 20 detections recorded.
Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Indiana
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Carmel Water Department (EPA ID: IN5229004) is a community water system in Indiana that serves approximately 99,927 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 10 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (59/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2, 2025 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Unresolved |
| February 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 7, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Radium-228 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Lead | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2034 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 8 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 6 | Yes |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 6 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 4 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | Yes |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 2 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2034 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46290 | 0.00518 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 46032 | 0.00294 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 46033 | 0.00294 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 46082 | 0.00294 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 9 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 46032 — Carmel
- 46033 — Carmel
- 46074 — Westfield
- 46077 — Zionsville
- 46082 — Carmel
- 46240 — Indianapolis
- 46260 — Indianapolis
- 46268 — Indianapolis
- 46280 — Indianapolis
- 46290 — Indianapolis
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Carmel Water Department (IN5229004) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carmel Water Department water safe to drink?
Carmel Water Department has recorded 5 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Carmel Water Department serve?
Carmel Water Department serves approximately 99,927 people across 10 ZIP codes in Indiana.
Where does Carmel Water Department get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from City of Carmel Water (Carmel Utilities) Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: City of Carmel Water (Carmel Utilities) Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Watershed exposure sources reported
Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Carmel Water (Carmel Utilities) Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
Aesthetic water quality
These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.
Aesthetic measurements from City of Carmel Water (Carmel Utilities) Consumer Confidence Report.
Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.
Hard water detected in City of Carmel Water (Carmel Utilities)
Your utility reported water hardness of 210.3 ppm CaCO₃ (12.3 grains per gallon) in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report. This is in the hard range and may cause scale buildup, reduced appliance lifespan, and dry skin or hair.
There are three common approaches to treating hard water: salt-based ion-exchange softeners (most effective, require salt refills), salt-free conditioners (lower maintenance, scale prevention only), and reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink (cooking and drinking water only). Aquasana, EcoWater, Pelican, and SpringWell are among the major US brands.
Paid Partner. ZipCheckup earns commission on Aquasana purchases. We do not test water or verify product effectiveness for specific hardness levels — manufacturer claims are theirs alone. Consult a certified water-quality professional for personalized advice.
Hardness data parsed from this utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report. Severity bands per USGS hard water classification.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Federal compliance violations on record
These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).
-
treatment_technique · CHLORINE2024-01
Failure to maintain microbial treatment (GWR). A failure within continuous monitoring equipment prohibited chlorine residual from being reported at minimum of every four hours at one treatment plant. Issue resolved within 12 hours; no risk to public health determined.
-
monitoring · CHLORINE2024-01
Failure to conduct or report compliance monitoring of a disinfected groundwater source (GWR) for the period 12/31/2023 - 1/30/2024.
Violations record from City of Carmel Water (Carmel Utilities) Consumer Confidence Report.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- Violation period 12/31/2023-1/30/2024: chlorine monitoring equipment failure at one treatment plant prohibited residual reporting; resolved within 12 hours with no public health risk.
- Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems (1.08% positive vs 5% MCL — still compliant but triggered Level 1/2 assessment).
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
- #87 / 100 Highest Exposure Burden (U.S.)
- #3 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Indiana)
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Carmel Water Department (EPA ID: IN5229004) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.