PFAS · Indiana
PFAS in Indiana drinking water: EPA’s final survey results
EPA’s national PFAS survey (UCMR 5) tested 219 of the community water systems that serve homes in Indiana. 53 found at least one of 29 PFAS above the laboratory reporting level, and 6 had a PFOA or PFOS sampling-location yearly average at or above EPA’s 4.0 ppt limit. Samples were collected from January 2023 to January 2026.
Data as of EPA UCMR 5 final release, August 2026 (file dated Aug 28, 2026) · EPA SDWIS 2026Q2 (file dated Jul 9, 2026). How we build these pages
PFPeA was the compound Indiana community systems found most often: 28 of 219 tested systems measured it above the reporting level. Across the country, 35% of surveyed community systems found at least one PFAS; in Indiana the share is 24%. The largest Indiana system with a detection, Citizens Water - Indianapolis, serves 880,345 people and found 4 of the 29 compounds.
Which PFAS were found most often in Indiana
Each row counts the Indiana community water systems where that compound was measured above the reporting level at least once. A detection is a measurement, not a violation: most of these compounds have no federal limit.
| Compound | Systems where found | Systems tested | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFPeA | 28 | 219 | 13% |
| PFBS | 25 | 219 | 11% |
| PFHxA | 18 | 219 | 8% |
| PFOA | 17 | 219 | 8% |
| PFBA | 16 | 219 | 7% |
| PFOS | 7 | 219 | 3% |
| PFHxS | 6 | 219 | 3% |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | 2 | 219 | 1% |
| PFHpA | 2 | 219 | 1% |
| PFPeS | 2 | 219 | 1% |
Indiana systems with the most PFAS found
The 10 surveyed community water systems that found the most different PFAS, with PFOA and PFOS compared to EPA’s 4.0 ppt limits on the yearly average at the highest sampling location. Larger systems come first when counts tie.
| Water system | People served | PFAS found (of 29) | PFOA | PFOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend Water Works IN5271014 | 115,000 | 8 | 5.0 ppt at or above the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Purdue Univ. Water Works IN5279015 | 50,000 | 6 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Elkhart Public Works and Utilities IN5220008 | 46,455 | 6 | 2.6 ppt below the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Mishawaka Utilities IN5271009 | 49,675 | 5 | — not detected above the reporting level | 2.1 ppt below the MCL |
| Brown County Water Utility IN5207001 | 15,368 | 5 | 6.5 ppt at or above the MCL | 5.3 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Pike-Gibson Water, INC. IN5263003 | 10,000 | 5 | 2.0 ppt below the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Citizens Water - Indianapolis IN5249004 | 880,345 | 4 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Columbus Municipal Utility IN5203002 | 51,122 | 4 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. IN5203008 | 8,652 | 4 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Mount Vernon Water Works IN5265006 | 6,426 | 4 | 1.0 ppt below the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
Counties with the most systems that found PFAS
- Hendricks County 5 of 5 surveyed systems
- St. Joseph County 3 of 5 surveyed systems
- Clark County 3 of 8 surveyed systems
- Johnson County 3 of 6 surveyed systems
- Jefferson County 3 of 4 surveyed systems
- Marion County 2 of 3 surveyed systems
- Allen County 2 of 3 surveyed systems
- Elkhart County 2 of 4 surveyed systems