Monitoring Violations IN

Jackson County Water Utility

EPA ID: IN5236003 · 13,667 people served · 4 ZIP codes

Over the tracked period, Jackson County Water Utility logged 6 EPA violations — each has been remedied, and the system now supplies 13,667 people in good standing.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 66
Avg Safety Score
13,667
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
6
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00223 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
2
Contaminants Flagged
$179K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 1 (2022) to 2 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Jackson County Water Utility Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$71,718
Median Household Income
42,018
Service Area Population
40%
Disadvantaged Population
60th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
56%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Jackson County Water Utility serves a community with a median household income of $71,718 and an estimated 42,018 residents across its service area. Approximately 56% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 40% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Jackson County Water Utility's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Jackson County, Indiana rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

51 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
19 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 73% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Jackson County Water Utility compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 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. 11 detections recorded. 8 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.012 ppt, PFOS: 0.012 ppt, PFHxS: 0.089 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Indiana

Washington Water Works
13,690 people
C 6 violations
C 3 violations
D 0 violations
D 12 violations
Bedford City Utilities
14,000 people
C 5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,350
PFAS Treatment $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $75
Total Estimated Cost $2,425

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,165
10 years
$10,330
20 years
$20,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,425 (one-time) vs. $10,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Jackson County Water Utility (EPA ID: IN5236003) is a community water system in Indiana that serves approximately 13,667 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (66/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

6 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
January 1, 2024 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
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 4 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
47220 0.00223 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate 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 Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Jackson County Water Utility (IN5236003) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jackson County Water Utility water safe to drink?

Jackson County Water Utility has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Jackson County Water Utility serve?

Jackson County Water Utility serves approximately 13,667 people across 4 ZIP codes in Indiana.

Where does Jackson County Water Utility get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
58
Detections
2
Latest sample
7/1/2024
Highest analyte
PFOA: 6 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 6 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFOS 5.1 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL

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 →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
6,280
Confirmed Non-Lead

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.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2024-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 13,667
Reported to Indiana

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Jackson County Water Utility safe to drink?
Jackson County Water Utility has a C safety grade based on 6 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Jackson County Water Utility's water?
Detected contaminants include Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Stage 1 DBP Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 2 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Jackson County Water Utility serve?
Jackson County Water Utility serves approximately 13,667 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Jackson County Water Utility's water source?
Jackson County Water Utility draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Jackson County Water Utility's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00223 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Jackson County Water Utility's service area?
The Jackson County Water Utility service area has a median household income of $71,718. EPA EJScreen data classifies 40% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Jackson County Water Utility get its water?
Jackson County Water Utility's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Jackson County Water Utility (EPA ID: IN5236003) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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