Health Violations Found IN 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Lapel Municipal Water Company

EPA ID: IN5248013 · 2,379 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Lapel Municipal Water Company's current EPA file includes 1 unresolved violation — every outstanding finding is documented in federal records for this utility, which supplies water to approximately 2,379 residents across its service territory.

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

C · 69
Avg Safety Score
2,379
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
5
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
3
Contaminants Flagged
$191K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 5 (2023) to 1 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Lapel Municipal Water Company Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$77,618
Median Household Income
37,702
Service Area Population
49%
Disadvantaged Population
60th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
67%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Lapel Municipal Water Company serves a community with a median household income of $77,618 and an estimated 37,702 residents across its service area. Approximately 67% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 49% 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

Lapel Municipal Water Company'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 Madison 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

50 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
17 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 75% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Lapel Municipal Water Company compares to EPA limits

Chlorine residual 1 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level) (25% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 4 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level)
Irritation & DBP formation at high levels; protective at normal treatment levels

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 2 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. 1 detection recorded. 1 exceeds 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 →

Chlorine residual was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Indiana

B 2 violations
0 violations
B 4 violations
Rising Sun Utilities
2,400 people
B 0 violations
Albion Water & Sewer
2,349 people
D 3 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $400
PFAS Treatment $200
Total Estimated Cost $3,000

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 $3,000 (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

Lapel Municipal Water Company (EPA ID: IN5248013) is a community water system in Indiana that serves approximately 2,379 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (69/100)

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

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 1 remains unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 2, 2025 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
February 3, 2023 Chlorine residual Health-based 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 3 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Chlorine residual Disinfectant 1 Yes

Health Risk Details

Chlorine (Residual Disinfectant) (EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level))

Irritation & DBP formation at high levels; protective at normal treatment levels At-risk groups: people with asthma or chemical sensitivities, kidney dialysis patients (water must be dechlorinated).

Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), KDF media filter, carbon block filter. 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
46051 0.002 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 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 Lapel Municipal Water Company (IN5248013) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lapel Municipal Water Company water safe to drink?

Lapel Municipal Water Company has recorded 1 health-based violation 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 Lapel Municipal Water Company serve?

Lapel Municipal Water Company serves approximately 2,379 people across 3 ZIP codes in Indiana.

Where does Lapel Municipal Water Company get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

2
Confirmed Lead
290
Galvanized — Replacement Required
101
Unknown Material
574
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 2003-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 2,379
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 Lapel Municipal Water Company safe to drink?
Lapel Municipal Water Company has a C safety grade based on 5 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Lapel Municipal Water Company's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule, Stage 2 DBP Rule, Chlorine residual. 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 Lapel Municipal Water Company serve?
Lapel Municipal Water Company serves approximately 2,379 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Lapel Municipal Water Company's water source?
Lapel Municipal Water Company draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Lapel Municipal Water Company's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.002 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Lapel Municipal Water Company's service area?
The Lapel Municipal Water Company service area has a median household income of $77,618. EPA EJScreen data classifies 49% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Lapel Municipal Water Company get its water?
Lapel Municipal Water Company'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

Lapel Municipal Water Company (EPA ID: IN5248013) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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