We read 13 results from Elkhart Public Works and Utilities’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 5 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 45,698 people · Water system ID IN5220008 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.36 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal1.2x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)highest measured · range 1.1 to 2.1 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2020 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 2.1 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 2 | 2 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal10x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range 5.1 to 5.1 · listed as a violation in the report · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 2.4 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal343x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range 1 to 2.2 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2020 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 2.2 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.03 to 0.14 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2024 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.14 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range 0.03 to 2.2 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 2 | 1 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chromium (total)highest measured · range 2.1 to 2.6 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2024 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 2.6 ppb | None set | 100 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · listed as a violation in the report · 52588 County Road 15 / 58458 State Road 19 · 2025 report, page 2 | 16 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · listed as a violation in the report · 52588 County Road 15 (highest site) · 2025 report, page 2 | 41 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.89 to 0.94 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2024 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.94 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.56 to 1.5 · listed as a violation in the report · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 1.5 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range 11 to 11 · listed as a violation in the report · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 8.1 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Elkhart Public Works and Utilities’s water between Jul 2024 and Jan 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA5.2 pptFound in 1 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS8.8 pptFound in 4 of 6 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS9.8 pptFound in 4 of 6 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Copper, Lead
What removes it: Reverse osmosis or Certified carbon block or RO.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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