Water System Report IN

Mishawaka Utilities

EPA ID: IN5271009 ยท 49,675 people served ยท 7 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Mishawaka Utilities (IN5271009): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Water monitoring history at Mishawaka Utilities shows a clean slate - EPA tracking over the past five years turned up no violations, and 49,675 residents continue to receive fully compliant service.

Data: EPA SDWIS

D ยท 49
Avg Safety Score
49,675
People Served
7
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0089 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$192K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Mishawaka Utilities Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$72,401
Median Household Income
156,095
Service Area Population
42%
Disadvantaged Population
51th
Poverty Percentile
49th
Energy Burden Percentile
64%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Mishawaka Utilities serves a community with a median household income of $72,401 and an estimated 156,095 residents across its service area. Approximately 64% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 42% 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.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Mishawaka Utilities'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
61th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
79th
Superfund Site Proximity

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 61th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 79th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

52 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
16 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 76% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 53 detections recorded. 15 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†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Indiana

Purdue Univ. Water Works
50,000 people
0 violations
C 7 violations
C 0 violations
D 4 violations
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $600
Water Filtration $129
Total Estimated Cost $3,129

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:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

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

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,129 (one-time) vs. $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

Mishawaka Utilities (EPA ID: IN5271009) is a community water system in Indiana that serves approximately 49,675 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 7 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (49/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 4 of 7 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 accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0089 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 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 $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 Mishawaka Utilities (IN5271009) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mishawaka Utilities water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Mishawaka Utilities in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Mishawaka Utilities serve?

Mishawaka Utilities serves approximately 49,675 people across 7 ZIP codes in Indiana.

Where does Mishawaka Utilities 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
232
Detections
6
Latest sample
2/27/2024
Highest analyte
PFHxS: 5.6 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFHxS 5.6 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFBA 5.2 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFOS 4.2 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFBS 3.7 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 3.3 ppt โ€” โ€”

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 Mishawaka Utilities safe to drink?
Mishawaka Utilities has a D safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Mishawaka Utilities meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Mishawaka Utilities serve?
Mishawaka Utilities serves approximately 49,675 people with drinking water across 7 ZIP codes.
What is Mishawaka Utilities's water source?
Mishawaka Utilities draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Mishawaka Utilities's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0089 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Mishawaka Utilities's service area?
The Mishawaka Utilities service area has a median household income of $72,401. EPA EJScreen data classifies 42% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Mishawaka Utilities get its water?
Mishawaka Utilities'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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Mishawaka Utilities, IN: Serves 50K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/in5271009/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-in5271009,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Mishawaka Utilities, IN: Serves 50K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/in5271009/}
}

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

Mishawaka Utilities (EPA ID: IN5271009) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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