Indianapolis, IN Water Quality Report
Is Indianapolis tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Indianapolis, Indiana. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Indianapolis tap water safe to drink? Indianapolis tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 0 ppt across 4 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Indianapolis water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Indianapolis water: PFBA (0.01 ppt), PFPeA (0.01 ppt), PFHxA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Indianapolis? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
Indianapolis Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Indianapolis drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 0.01 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 0 ppt across 4 detected compounds.
Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.
Top Detected Compounds
- PFBA: 0.01 ppt
- PFPeA: 0.01 ppt
- PFHxA: 0.01 ppt
- PFBS: 0 ppt
Lead in Indianapolis Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 24 lead samples for Indianapolis water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0313 mg/L (above the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Indianapolis
Indianapolis public water systems have 3 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Total Organic Carbon. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Indianapolis: approximately 867,125.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Indianapolis to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Indianapolis Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually