Is Carmel Water Department water safe to drink?

Carmel Water Department (PWS ID: IN5229004) has 23 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 99,927 people using Surface Water sources.

How many people does Carmel Water Department serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that Carmel Water Department serves 99,927 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of Carmel or any other city). It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 36,337 service connections. The operator address is listed in Carmel, Indiana.

What type of violations does Carmel Water Department have?

Carmel Water Department has 23 total violations: 8 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 9 monitoring/reporting violations, and 4 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in Carmel Water Department water?

No. Carmel Water Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

What water source does Carmel Water Department use?

Carmel Water Department uses Surface Water 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.

Where does Carmel Water Department sit among U.S. public water systems?

According to EPA SDWIS population_served among sitemap-advertised systems (serving 500+), Carmel Water Department ranks #492 of 29,740 by people served, and #7 of 788 in Indiana. Ordinals use population_served DESC among systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). See /methodology#corpus-placement.

How does Carmel Water Department's violation count compare nationally?

Carmel Water Department has 23 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 64% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 35% of that cohort has fewer violations than Carmel Water Department. A system can have zero recorded violations and still be actively monitored, and a high violation count often reflects a system that reports thoroughly, not necessarily one with worse water.

States → Indiana

Community Water System · PWS IN5229004

Carmel Water Department

Operator location Carmel, Indiana - 35% of 23 violations are health-based (upper-third health share (> 23%)); surface water source; 99,927 served per SDWIS.

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

99,927
People served (this PWS) Larger third of systems: 23
EPA violations (this PWS) Middle third of systems: 8
Health-based (this PWS) Upper third by health-based share: No PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Tested, none detected

Follow published updates (RSS)

Carmel Water Department standing, mid SDWIS violation third

35% of 23 recorded violations are health-based - upper-third health share (> 23%). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 35% is upper-third health share (> 23%). UCMR5: UCMR5 tested, none detected. Population rank #492 of 29,740 among systems serving 500+.

The verdict

Carmel Water Department lands in the middle third by violation volume (23), large enough for peer comparisons without matching the fleet's heaviest ledgers. Population served is large (99,927; larger served population (> 3,309)), so household exposure scale sits behind the violation mix. Health-based share is 35% - most of this ledger is MCL or treatment-technique exceedance. UCMR5 tested this system and reported no PFAS above the minimum reporting level.

#492 of 29,740
Population · /systems: #7 of 788
Population · IN: 23
Total EPA violations on record: 35%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)

Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.

Water Safety Score

36/100

Carmel Water Department

Based on EPA SDWIS violation history and UCMR5 PFAS testing only, not water taste, odor, infrastructure age, or contaminants outside the federally tracked set.

Health-based violations F

EPA SDWIS health-based violations on record (MCL, MRDL, treatment technique)

Monitoring & reporting violations C

Non-health SDWIS violations (monitoring, reporting, and other compliance)

PFAS contamination N/A

Tested, none detected

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 36,337
County: Hamilton
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 4
Monitoring Violations: 9
Treatment Tech Violations: 4

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	6	2022
Turbidity	MR	4	2013
Groundwater Rule	TT	4	2024
Revised Total Coliform Rule	MCL	4	2021
Groundwater Rule	MR	4	2024
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U	MR	1	1980

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

Carmel Water Department has 23 recorded EPA violations, 35% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 64% carry more. 35% of this system's own violations are health-based (8 of 23), and it ranks #492 of 29,740 by population served among that same cohort.

EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus

Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)

23 Lower than most fewer violations than 64% of 29,740 water systems

the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15

How many violations vs. how serious, among peer systems

Carmel Water Department plotted against 29 peer public water systems (500+ people served), by total violation count (x) and the share of those violations that are health-based (y). The crosshair sits at this sample's own median on each axis. A high violation count does not automatically mean a serious record: most monitoring and reporting violations are minor, not health-based.

30 public water systems (500+ people served), EPA SDWIS current release.

How to read this

Each dot is one public water system; the highlighted dot is Carmel Water Department. A system to the right has more recorded violations; a system higher up has a larger share of those violations classified health-based rather than monitoring or reporting.

Rare but serious: few violations, but most of them are health-based.
Frequent, mostly paperwork: many violations, but mostly monitoring or reporting, not health-based.
Clean record: below-median on both counts, the tinted corner.

View all 30 systems as a list

City of Ballinger: 372 violations, 85% health-based
Carmel Water Department: 23 violations, 35% health-based (this system)
Nooksack Valley Water Association: 16 violations, 31% health-based
Montgomery Co RWD 12: 7 violations, 29% health-based
Irvin Water District #6: 11 violations, 27% health-based
Ticonderoga WD: 47 violations, 26% health-based
Pine Valley Plantation: 37 violations, 24% health-based
McLouth, City Of: 29 violations, 17% health-based
Kipling Oaks 1: 25 violations, 16% health-based
South Deerfield Water Supply District: 96 violations, 16% health-based
Sunset Ridge Water District: 82 violations, 15% health-based
Orange Water Dept: 136 violations, 14% health-based
Mount Pleasant Water Sys #1: 167 violations, 11% health-based
Lake Gibson Estates: 42 violations, 2% health-based
Benson Culinary Improvement District: 212 violations, 1% health-based
Conemaugh Twp Muni Auth: 567 violations, 1% health-based
Miccosukee Service Plaza: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Brazoria - Fort Bend Counties MUD 3: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Tanglewilde Thompson Place 600: 2 violations, 0% health-based
Center Water Co: 5 violations, 0% health-based
Spring Mills Elem School/Hvs: 9 violations, 0% health-based
Great Bend Industrial Park: 14 violations, 0% health-based
Glen Park Village: 19 violations, 0% health-based
Camp Is-Sho-Da: 22 violations, 0% health-based
Hamilton: 33 violations, 0% health-based
Town of Welaka: 54 violations, 0% health-based
Township of Blairstown Dpw: 61 violations, 0% health-based
McIntosh Water & Fire Pro Authority: 71 violations, 0% health-based
Clarkdale Municipal Water System: 114 violations, 0% health-based
Eureka Water Association: 273 violations, 0% health-based

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 290 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFMPA	8/22/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	8/22/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	8/22/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	8/22/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	8/22/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	8/22/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	8/22/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	8/22/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	8/22/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	8/22/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	8/22/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	8/22/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	8/22/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	8/22/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	8/22/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	8/22/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	8/22/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	8/22/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	8/22/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	8/22/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	8/22/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	8/22/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	8/22/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	8/22/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	8/22/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	8/22/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	8/22/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	8/22/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected

Health-based violations on Carmel Water Department

8 health-based rows in the tables above map to MCL or treatment-technique exceedances, verify each contaminant code on the federal SDWIS report for IN5229004.

EPA SDWIS · PWS IN5229004 IN primacy agency

Sources: EPA SDWIS · Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Drinking Water Branch

Nationwide peers

23 violations · 99,927 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.

Cross-state systems near this violation count

Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.

4 peers

Cross-state systems with similar served population

Nearest cross-state systems by EPA SDWIS population_served (same 500+ sitemap gate).

4 peers

What to do with Carmel Water Department

Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.

See how every tracked system in Indiana compares on the same EPA violation measures. Indiana systems
Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems

EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater

Compiled by PlainWater, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Process · May 15, 2026

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.