Community Water System · PWS IN5203002
Columbus Municipal Utility
Columbus, Indiana 47201 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 51,122 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 51,122
- People served
- 8
- EPA violations
- 0
- Health-based
- 4 PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 8 drinking-water violations at Columbus Municipal Utility - below the Indiana per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds.
- 8
- Total EPA violations on record
- 0%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 51,122
- People served by this system
- 4
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Columbus Municipal Utility
Columbus Municipal Utility is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 51,122 residents in Columbus, Indiana (Bartholomew County) through 29,449 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 8 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 6 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2012.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 3 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 4 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 16.3 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.
Across Indiana, EPA tracks 3,967 public water systems serving 5,774,616 people, with 352,710 cumulative violations and 35,932 health-based violations on record. About 96% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 88.9 violations. Statewide, 93 of 229 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (40.6%).
Columbus Municipal Utility's 8 violations sit below the Indiana average.
All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
4 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 29,449
- County
- Bartholomew
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 0
- Monitoring Violations
- 6
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 3 | 2012 |
| E. COLI | MR | 3 | 2012 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 14 of 116 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFHxS | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 7/16/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 7/16/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 7/16/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 7/16/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 7/16/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 7/16/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 7/16/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 7/16/2024 | 3.10 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFHpS | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 7/16/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 7/16/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 7/16/2024 | 10.50 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFMPA | 7/16/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 7/16/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 7/16/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 7/16/2024 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 7/16/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 7/16/2024 | 6.10 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFTA | 7/16/2024 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 7/16/2024 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 7/16/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 7/16/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 7/16/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 7/16/2024 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 7/16/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 7/16/2024 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 7/16/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 7/16/2024 | 5.90 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 7/16/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 7/16/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 7/16/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 7/16/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 7/16/2024 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 7/16/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 7/16/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 7/16/2024 | 6.70 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFMBA | 7/16/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
Verify This Water System
The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Columbus Municipal Utility.
EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:
View PWS ID IN5203002 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
Indiana Drinking Water Authority
Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Drinking Water Branch is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Columbus Municipal Utility under EPA-delegated authority.
Open IN regulator portalSource: Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Drinking Water Branch
Violation Timeline
Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.
| Year (latest) | Contaminant | Category | Count | EPA Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 3 | SDWIS / IN5203002 / 3100 |
| 2012 | E. COLI | MR | 3 | SDWIS / IN5203002 / 3014 |
How Columbus Municipal Utility Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Columbus Municipal Utility | Indiana avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 8 | 88.9 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 0 | 9.1 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | 4 compounds | 40.6% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 51,122 | 1,456 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 3,967 regulated public water systems in Indiana.
Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
| Contaminant | Federal MCL / Action Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) | Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique |
| Arsenic | 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) | Health-based MCL since 2006 |
| Total Coliform | Treatment technique (RTCR) | Indicator organism, monitoring trigger |
| PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) | 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) | Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026) |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbus Municipal Utility water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Columbus Municipal Utility serve? ▼
What type of violations does Columbus Municipal Utility have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Columbus Municipal Utility water? ▼
What water source does Columbus Municipal Utility use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.