South Bend Water Works
EPA ID: IN5271014 · 115,000 people served · 16 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for South Bend Water Works (IN5271014): PFAS sampling above the current EPA limit (UCMR5). Even though South Bend Water Works accumulated 1 violation over five years, all have been formally resolved - the provider currently meets EPA standards for 115,000 people.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for South Bend Water Works Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade D
Service Area Demographics
The South Bend Water Works serves a community with a median household income of $57,983 and an estimated 257,504 residents across its service area. Approximately 72% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 44% 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?
South Bend 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.
Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How South Bend Water Works compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Consumer Confidence Report 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. 128 detections recorded. 34 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Indiana
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
South Bend Water Works (EPA ID: IN5271014) is a community water system in Indiana that serves approximately 115,000 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 16 ZIP codes across 6 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (48/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 11 of 16 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
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Non-health-based | 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 | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0047 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 $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: 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.
- 46530 - Granger
- 46544 - Mishawaka
- 46545 - Mishawaka
- 46552 - New Carlisle
- 46554 - North Liberty
- 46556 - Notre Dame
- 46601 - South Bend
- 46613 - South Bend
- 46614 - South Bend
- 46615 - South Bend
- 46616 - South Bend
- 46617 - South Bend
- 46619 - South Bend
- 46628 - South Bend
- 46635 - South Bend
- 46637 - South Bend
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for South Bend Water Works (IN5271014) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Bend Water Works water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for South Bend Water Works; its 1 accepted 2021-2026 record are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.
How many people does South Bend Water Works serve?
South Bend Water Works serves approximately 115,000 people across 16 ZIP codes in Indiana.
Where does South Bend Water Works get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable 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 →
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
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). South Bend Water Works (IN): 1 EPA Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/in5271014/
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author = {{ZipCheckup}},
title = {{South Bend Water Works (IN): 1 EPA Violation}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/in5271014/}
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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
South Bend Water Works (EPA ID: IN5271014) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.