Monitoring Violations IN

Madison Water Department

EPA ID: IN5239006 · 15,323 people served · 4 ZIP codes

The EPA enforcement database lists 5 active violations for Madison Water Department — a provider that delivers drinking water to approximately 15,323 people and has not yet formally resolved those findings.

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

C · 60
Avg Safety Score
15,323
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
11
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00326 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
4
Contaminants Flagged
$176K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Madison Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$61,500
Median Household Income
31,822
Service Area Population
29%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
66%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Madison Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $61,500 and an estimated 31,822 residents across its service area. Approximately 66% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Madison Water Department'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
60th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Jefferson County, Indiana rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.

Infrastructure Risk

48 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
22 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 69% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Madison Water Department compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

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

Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

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

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

C 12 violations
C 5 violations
C 29 violations
C 3 violations
D 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,350
Radon Mitigation $800
PFAS Treatment $575
Total Estimated Cost $2,725

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 $2,725 (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

Madison Water Department (EPA ID: IN5239006) is a community water system in Indiana that serves approximately 15,323 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: C (60/100)

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

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
August 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
October 27, 2023 Total Coliform Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
June 20, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved
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
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 5 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 4 No
Total Coliform Microbiological 1 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 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
47231 0.00326 mg/L No N/A
47250 0.0018 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: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by IN or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Madison Water Department (IN5239006) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madison Water Department water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Madison Water Department serve?

Madison Water Department serves approximately 15,323 people across 4 ZIP codes in Indiana.

Where does Madison Water Department 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
174
Detections
8
Latest sample
10/2/2024
Highest analyte
PFBS: 8.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBS 8.5 ppt
PFOA 4.6 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
65
Galvanized — Replacement Required
2,468
Unknown Material
3,563
Confirmed Non-Lead

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 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 15,323
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 →

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Madison Water Department safe to drink?
Madison Water Department has a C safety grade based on 11 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Madison Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Total Coliform, 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 4 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 Madison Water Department serve?
Madison Water Department serves approximately 15,323 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Madison Water Department's water source?
Madison Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Madison Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00326 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Madison Water Department's service area?
The Madison Water Department service area has a median household income of $61,500. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Madison Water Department get its water?
Madison Water Department'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

Madison Water Department (EPA ID: IN5239006) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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