Historical Compliance Records IN

Tell City Water Department

EPA ID: IN5262004 ยท 9,315 people served ยท 2 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Tell City Water Department (IN5262004): 23 EPA violations in the last five years. Despite the 23 historical violations in its record, Tell City Water Department has cleared every one and now meets EPA standards serving 9,315 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 58
Avg Safety Score
9,315
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
23
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00108 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
23
Contaminants Flagged
$139K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$55,805
Median Household Income
13,762
Service Area Population
20%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
71%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Tell City Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $55,805 and an estimated 13,762 residents across its service area. Approximately 71% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Tell City 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
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

55 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
13 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 81% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Tell City Water Department compares to EPA limits

PFOA 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.000004 mg/L
PFNA 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.00001 mg/L
Chlorodibromomethane 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.002 mg/L
Liver cancer, brain cancer (known carcinogen)
Bromate 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.01 mg/L
Monochloroacetic Acid 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L

What This Means For You

PFOA at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.000004 mg/L.

PFNA at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.00001 mg/L.

Chlorodibromomethane at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.002 mg/L. Liver cancer, brain cancer (known carcinogen). Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Bromate at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.01 mg/L.

Monochloroacetic Acid at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 2 detections recorded. 2 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 โ†’

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

Find a certified water filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Indiana

1 violation
Dubois Water Utilities
9,078 people
0 violations
0 violations
0 violations
C 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,200

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 $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,665
10 years
$15,330
20 years
$30,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,200 (one-time) vs. $15,330 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

Tell City Water Department (EPA ID: IN5262004) is a community water system in Indiana that serves approximately 9,315 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (58/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 2 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No current noncompliance in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot. The 23 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 23 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
January 1, 2024 PFOA Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 PFNA Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Monochloroacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Dichloroacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Bromodichloromethane Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Dibromochloromethane Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Bromoform Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Chlorodibromomethane Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Trichloroacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Monobromoacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Dibromoacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Bromochloroacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Bromodichloroacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Chlorodibromoacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Tribromoacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 HAA6Br Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 HAA9 Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Bromate Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Chlorate Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Chloramine Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
PFOA PFAS 1 No
PFNA PFAS 1 No
Monochloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Dichloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Bromodichloromethane Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Dibromochloromethane Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Bromoform Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Chlorodibromomethane Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Trichloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Monobromoacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Dibromoacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Bromochloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Bromodichloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Chlorodibromoacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Tribromoacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.00108 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” 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 Tell City Water Department (IN5262004) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tell City Water Department water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Tell City Water Department; its 23 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Tell City Water Department serve?

Tell City Water Department serves approximately 9,315 people across 2 ZIP codes in Indiana.

Where does Tell City 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
58
Detections
1
Latest sample
11/6/2023
Highest analyte
PFOA: 4.3 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 4.3 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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

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 Tell City Water Department safe to drink?
Tell City Water Department has a C safety grade based on 23 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Tell City Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include PFOA, PFNA, Chlorodibromomethane, Bromate. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 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 Tell City Water Department serve?
Tell City Water Department serves approximately 9,315 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Tell City Water Department's water source?
Tell City Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Tell City Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00108 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Tell City Water Department's service area?
The Tell City Water Department service area has a median household income of $55,805. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Tell City Water Department get its water?
Tell City 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 the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Tell City Water Department (IN): 23 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/in5262004/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-in5262004,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Tell City Water Department (IN): 23 EPA Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/in5262004/}
}

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 โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Tell City Water Department (EPA ID: IN5262004) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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