Valparaiso Department of Water Works
EPA ID: IN5264029 · 36,000 people served · 4 ZIP codes
Tallying the federal enforcement file for Valparaiso Department of Water Works yields 8 open violations that have not been formally closed — each finding sits in the EPA database while the utility continues to deliver water to approximately 36,000 residents and works through the required corrective action process.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Valparaiso Department of Water Works Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Valparaiso Department of Water Works serves a community with a median household income of $86,955 and an estimated 92,409 residents across its service area. Approximately 48% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Valparaiso Department of Water Works'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.
About 1% of homes in Porter 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 Valparaiso Department of Water Works compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Organic Carbon at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Radium-228 at 1 pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L). Bone cancer and leukemia (known carcinogen). Consider ion exchange (water softener) filtration.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Radium-228 was detected in this water system. ion exchange (water softener) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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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
Valparaiso Department of Water Works (EPA ID: IN5264029) is a community water system in Indiana that serves approximately 36,000 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 2 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (76/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 2, 2025 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Radium-228 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| June 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| May 21, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Total Organic Carbon | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| 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 | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Total Organic Carbon | 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 | 5 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | Yes |
| Total Organic Carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | No |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46383 | 0.0056 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 46384 | 0.0056 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 46385 | 0.0056 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 FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 3 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.
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Valparaiso Department of Water Works (IN5264029) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valparaiso Department of Water Works water safe to drink?
Valparaiso Department of Water Works 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 Valparaiso Department of Water Works serve?
Valparaiso Department of Water Works serves approximately 36,000 people across 4 ZIP codes in Indiana.
Where does Valparaiso Department of Water Works get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
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 VALPARAISO CITY 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: VALPARAISO CITY 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.
The Valparaiso Water Department was the first public water supply in Indiana to complete its Wellhead Protection Program, which was designed to protect our wells from contamination. The Water Department was also the first public water utility in Indiana to complete the phase II update to the Wellhead Protection Program.
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 →
The VCU Water Department is in the process of conducting the lead service line inventory. The Department is also in compliance with all current requirements of the LCRI.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
VALPARAISO CITY UTILITIES
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
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.
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.
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.
- In July a positive coliform sample was reported and it was a warning of potential problems. Subsequent repeat sample results confirmed that sample was false positive.
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.
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
Valparaiso Department of Water Works (EPA ID: IN5264029) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.