BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES

Q: Is BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES water safe to drink?

BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (PWS ID: IN5242001) has 224 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 4,064 people using Groundwater sources.

Q: What type of violations does BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES have?

BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES has 224 total violations: 13 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 197 monitoring/reporting violations, and 4 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Q: Has PFAS been detected in BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES water?

No. BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

Q: What water source does BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES use?

BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES 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: IN5242001 · BICKNELL, Indiana 47512

BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES serves 4,064 people in BICKNELL, Indiana using Groundwater water sources. It has 224 recorded EPA violations, including 13 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.

Water Quality Snapshot: BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES

BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 4,064 residents in BICKNELL, Indiana (Knox County) through 1,505 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 224 total violations for this system , of which 13 (6%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 197 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 18 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

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. BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES's 224 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.

Population Served

4,064

Total Violations

224

Health-Based Violations

Water Source

Groundwater

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 1,505
County: Knox
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 9
Monitoring Violations: 197
Treatment Tech Violations: 4

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MR	18	2025
TTHM	MR	15	2024
Coliform (TCR)	MCL	9	1995
Lead and Copper Rule	MR	8	2017
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	7	2018
Xylenes, Total	MR	7	2018
DICHLOROMETHANE	MR	7	2018
o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	7	2018
p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	7	2018
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	7	2018
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	MR	7	2018
Tetrachloroethylene	MR	7	2018
CHLOROBENZENE	MR	7	2018
Benzene	MR	7	2018
Vinyl chloride	MR	7	2018
Carbon tetrachloride	MR	7	2018
1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	7	2018
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	MR	7	2018
Styrene	MR	7	2018
Toluene	MR	7	2018
1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	7	2018
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	MR	7	2018
Ethylbenzene	MR	7	2018
Trichloroethylene	MR	7	2018
1,1-Dichloroethylene	MR	7	2018
Groundwater Rule	TT	4	2010
Groundwater Rule	MR	4	2010
Revised Total Coliform Rule	MON	3	2024
Public Notice	Other	2	2024
Coliform (TCR)	MR	2	1992

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 60 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFOS	6/5/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	6/5/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	6/5/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	6/5/2023	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	6/5/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	6/5/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	6/5/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFUnA	6/5/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	6/5/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	6/5/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	6/5/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	6/5/2023	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	6/5/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	6/5/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	6/5/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	6/5/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	6/5/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	6/5/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	6/5/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	12/4/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	12/4/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	12/4/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	12/4/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	12/4/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	12/4/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	12/4/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	12/4/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	12/4/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	12/4/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	12/4/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	12/4/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	12/4/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	12/4/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	12/4/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	12/4/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	12/4/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	12/4/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	12/4/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	12/4/2023	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 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 BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES.

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 IN5242001 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 BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES 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
2025	Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MR	18	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2456
2024	TTHM	MR	15	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2950
2024	Revised Total Coliform Rule	MON	3	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 8000
2024	Public Notice	Other	2	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 7500
2018	cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2380
2018	Xylenes, Total	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2955
2018	DICHLOROMETHANE	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2964
2018	o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2968
2018	p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2969
2018	trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2979
2018	1,1,1-Trichloroethane	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2981
2018	Tetrachloroethylene	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2987
2018	CHLOROBENZENE	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2989
2018	Benzene	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2990
2018	Vinyl chloride	MR	7	SDWIS / IN5242001 / 2976

How BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES Compares

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

Metric	BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES	Indiana avg	Federal benchmark
Total violations	224	88.9	SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations	13	9.1	Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection	None	40.6%	EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served	4,064	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 BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES water safe to drink? ▼

BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (PWS ID: IN5242001) has 224 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 4,064 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES serve? ▼

BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES serves 4,064 people in BICKNELL, Indiana. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,505 service connections.

What type of violations does BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES have? ▼

BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES has 224 total violations: 13 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 197 monitoring/reporting violations, and 4 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES water? ▼

No. BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

What water source does BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES use? ▼

BICKNELL MUNICIPAL UTILITIES 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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