RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT

Q: Is RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT water safe to drink?

RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT (PWS ID: IN5237005) has 109 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 6,200 people using Groundwater sources.

Q: What type of violations does RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT have?

RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT has 109 total violations: 2 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 105 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Q: Has PFAS been detected in RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT water?

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT's water supply: lithium. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

Q: What water source does RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT use?

RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Q: 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.

Reviewed byPlainWater Editorial, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Team · June 4, 2026

PWS ID: IN5237005 · RENSSELAER, Indiana 47978

RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT serves 6,200 people in RENSSELAER, Indiana using Groundwater water sources. It has 109 recorded EPA violations, including 2 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (1 compound found).

Water Quality Snapshot: RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT

RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 6,200 residents in RENSSELAER, Indiana (Jasper County) through 2,823 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 109 total violations for this system , of which 2 (2%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 105 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2014.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 6 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 10.9 ppt. 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. RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT's 109 violations sit above the Indiana average. Statewide, 93 of 229 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (40.6%). 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

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

Population Served

6,200

Total Violations

109

Health-Based Violations

Water Source

Groundwater

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 2,823
County: Jasper
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 2
Monitoring Violations: 105
Treatment Tech Violations: 0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Coliform (TCR)	MR	6	2014
DICHLOROMETHANE	MR	4	2008
o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	4	2008
p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	4	2008
Vinyl chloride	MR	4	2008
1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	4	2008
1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	4	2008
Tetrachloroethylene	MR	4	2008
Benzene	MR	4	2008
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	MR	4	2008
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	4	2008
Xylenes, Total	MR	4	2008
Trichloroethylene	MR	4	2008
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	MR	4	2008
Styrene	MR	4	2008
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	MR	4	2008
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	4	2008
Carbon tetrachloride	MR	4	2008
CHLOROBENZENE	MR	4	2008
Ethylbenzene	MR	4	2008
Toluene	MR	4	2008
1,1-Dichloroethylene	MR	4	2008
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MR	3	2010
TTHM	MR	3	2010
Coliform (TCR)	MCL	2	1997
Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	2	2001
Chromium	MR	1	1979
Barium	MR	1	1979
Nitrate	MR	1	1979
Arsenic	MR	1	1979

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2 of 60 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFTA	6/4/2024	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	6/4/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	6/4/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	6/4/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	6/4/2024	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	6/4/2024	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	6/4/2024	10.6000 µg/L	9 µg/L	Detected
PFUnA	6/4/2024	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	6/4/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	6/4/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	6/4/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	6/4/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	6/4/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	6/4/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	6/4/2024	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	6/4/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	6/4/2024	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	6/4/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	6/4/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	12/3/2024	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	12/3/2024	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	12/3/2024	10.9000 µg/L	9 µg/L	Detected
PFTA	12/3/2024	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	12/3/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	12/3/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	12/3/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	12/3/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	12/3/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	12/3/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	12/3/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	12/3/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	12/3/2024	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	12/3/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	12/3/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	12/3/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	12/3/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	12/3/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	12/3/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	12/3/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	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 RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT.

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 IN5237005 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 RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT 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
2014	Coliform (TCR)	MR	6	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 3100
2010	Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MR	3	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2456
2010	TTHM	MR	3	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2950
2008	DICHLOROMETHANE	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2964
2008	o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2968
2008	p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2969
2008	Vinyl chloride	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2976
2008	1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2980
2008	1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2983
2008	Tetrachloroethylene	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2987
2008	Benzene	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2990
2008	1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2378
2008	cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2380
2008	Xylenes, Total	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2955
2008	Trichloroethylene	MR	4	SDWIS / IN5237005 / 2984

How RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT Compares

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

Metric	RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT	Indiana avg	Federal benchmark
Total violations	109	88.9	SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations	2	9.1	Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection	1 compound	40.6%	EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served	6,200	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
Nitrate (as N)	10 mg/L	Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT water safe to drink? ▼

RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT (PWS ID: IN5237005) has 109 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 6,200 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT serve? ▼

RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT serves 6,200 people in RENSSELAER, Indiana. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 2,823 service connections.

What type of violations does RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT have? ▼

RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT has 109 total violations: 2 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 105 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT water? ▼

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT's water supply: lithium. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

What water source does RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT use? ▼

RENSSELAER WATER DEPARTMENT 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.

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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.

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