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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT • Updated October 2026
Grade C — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT has a mixed record — read the reasons below; the deductions come from real EPA violations, lead results or PFAS detections, not from a template.
Carmel, IN tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of 2 health-based EPA violations in the last five years. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
Carmel, IN tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of 2 health-based EPA violations in the last five years. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 2.94 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 290 UCMR5 PFAS results for CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT (2023-02-20 to 2023-11-08) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT has 4 violations on file since 2016: 2 health-based in the last five years and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT reports groundwater under surface-water influence as its primary source and serves about 99,927 people (EPA PWSID IN5229004).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
Compare filter options for your Carmel tap water
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT has 2 health-based EPA violations in the last five years.
See the filters matched to Carmel's EPA results → — which certification actually removes what was found here, and what it does not touch.
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CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records 2 health-based violations for this system in the last five years, all of which are marked resolved or archived. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or a required treatment step was not met.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR)Groundwater Rule | Treatment technique | 2024-01-01 → 2024-01-31 | Resolvedreturned 2024-01-31 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR)Revised Total Coliform Rule | MCL exceeded | 2021-10-01 → 2021-10-31 | Resolvedreturned 2021-10-12 |
| Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Unfilt/GWR)Groundwater Rule | Monitoring & reporting | 2024-01-01 → 2024-01-31 | Resolvedreturned 2024-01-31 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to ReportConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2022-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2022-08-09 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31), 90% of the homes CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT sampled had lead at or below 2.94 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 2.94 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2018-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | 5.06 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2015-01-01 → 2017-12-31 | 3.8 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2012-01-01 → 2014-12-31 | 2.3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2011-01-01 → 2013-12-31 | 8.6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 2.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2005-01-01 → 2007-12-31 | 6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2002-01-01 → 2004-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1999-01-01 → 2001-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1996-01-01 → 1996-12-31 | 6.1 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1995-01-01 → 1995-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1994-01-01 → 1994-12-31 | 8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-02-20 to 2023-11-08 · 290 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 290 UCMR5 PFAS results for CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 10 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 10 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 10 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 10 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 10 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 10 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
Lithium (also monitored under UCMR5, not a PFAS): detected in 1 of 10 samples, max 9.6 µg/L. There is no federal limit for lithium.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Every scored contaminant stayed within its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and averaged below 80% of the limit. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 155 detects | 0.4 µg/L | 1.8 µg/L | 10 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Nitrate (as N) | 4119 detects | 0.192 mg/L | 1.29 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 1514 detects | 0.726 mg/L | 1.12 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 152 detects | 0.133 µg/L | 1 µg/L | 100 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Uranium (combined) | 7 | 2.243 µg/L | 6.6 µg/L | 30 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Gross alpha | 72 detects | 1.329 pCi/L | 6.7 pCi/L | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 164 | 22.51 µg/L | 48.1 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 166 | 10.373 µg/L | 31.8 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Lead (tap samples) | 3016 detects | 1.387 µg/L | 7.3 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 30 | 113.3 µg/L | 211 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Carmel will follow up - no obligation.
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT · 32,275 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT reports no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines and has classified 100% of its 32,275 lines as non-lead. Lead can still come from pre-1986 plumbing and fixtures inside a home.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID IN5229004 · See all Indiana lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Source type was not reported to EPA for this system.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Carmel homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Carmel faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Carmel households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What Carmel residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 46032, 46033, 46280, 46290). All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Carmel yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Carmel ranks #30 of 32 graded Indiana cities.
Carmel, IN tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of 2 health-based EPA violations in the last five years. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 2.94 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 290 UCMR5 PFAS results for CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT (2023-02-20 to 2023-11-08) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT has 4 violations on file since 2016: 2 health-based in the last five years and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT reports groundwater under surface-water influence as its primary source and serves about 99,927 people (EPA PWSID IN5229004).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT has 2 health-based EPA violations in the last five years.
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Find the right filter for your Carmel water quality needs:
Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for Carmel, IN.
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