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Community Water System · PWS IN5203008

Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp.

Columbus, Indiana 47201 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 8,652 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

8,652
People served
36
EPA violations
0
Health-based
4 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 36 drinking-water violations at Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. - below the Indiana per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds.

36
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
8,652
People served by this system
4
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp.

Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 8,652 residents in Columbus, Indiana (Bartholomew County) through 3,146 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 36 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 12 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 4 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 14.1 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%).

Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp.'s 36 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.

PFAS Detected

4 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
8,652
Total Violations
36
Health-Based Violations
0
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
3,146
County
Bartholomew
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
12
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MR 4 2021
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 2021
Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 3 2021
Revised Total Coliform Rule Other 3 2022
Coliform (TCR) MR 3 2010
Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 1993

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 4 of 58 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NFDHA 8/6/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/6/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/6/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/6/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/6/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/6/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/6/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/6/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/6/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/6/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/6/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/6/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/6/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/6/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/6/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/6/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/6/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/6/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 2/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 2/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 2/4/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 2/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 2/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 2/4/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 2/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 2/4/2025 14.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
8:2 FTS 2/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 2/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 2/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 2/4/2025 8.50 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
HFPO-DA 2/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 2/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 2/4/2025 8.70 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFTrDA 2/4/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 2/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 2/4/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 2/4/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 2/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 2/4/2025 <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 Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp..

Federal Source of Truth

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 IN5203008 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Indiana Drinking Water Authority

Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Drinking Water Branch is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. under EPA-delegated authority.

Open IN regulator portal

Source: 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
2022 Revised Total Coliform Rule Other 3 SDWIS / IN5203008 / 8000
2021 TTHM MR 4 SDWIS / IN5203008 / 2950
2021 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 SDWIS / IN5203008 / 2456
2021 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 3 SDWIS / IN5203008 / 8000
2010 Coliform (TCR) MR 3 SDWIS / IN5203008 / 3100
1993 Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 SDWIS / IN5203008 / 5000

How Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. Indiana avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 36 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 8,652 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 Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. water safe to drink?
Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. (PWS ID: IN5203008) has 36 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 4 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 8,652 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. serve?
Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. serves 8,652 people in Columbus, Indiana. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 3,146 service connections.
What type of violations does Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. have?
Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. has 36 total violations: 0 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 12 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds in Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp.'s water supply: PFPeA, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. use?
Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

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.