Is Carmel, IN tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Carmel Water Department.
3 public water systems serve parts of Carmel. The largest, Carmel Water Department, serves 99,927 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Carmel Water Department
99,927 people · Groundwater under influence of surface water · EPA ID IN5229004
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 2.94 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2023, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 2
Across Indiana, 6 of 219 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 6 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Indiana results.
Carmel homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Carmel city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Other water systems serving Carmel
- Citizens Water of Westfield, LLC61,493 people · Groundwater · Indiana · lists this cityNo PFAS above limits
- Carmel Clay Water393 people · Purchased surface water · Indiana · lists this cityNot in EPA's PFAS sample
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Westfield 5 mi Carmel Water Department | None above limits | 2.94 ppb |
| Noblesville 9 mi Indiana American Water – Noblesville | None above limits | 3 ppb |
| Zionsville 9 mi Citizens Water – Whitestown | None above limits | 0.33 ppb |
| Lawrence 11 mi City of Lawrence Utilities | None above limits | 0.76 ppb |
| Indianapolis 13 mi Citizens Water – Indianapolis | None above limits | 3.44 ppb |
| Brownsburg 15 mi Brownsburg Water Works | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Carmel ZIP codes (4)
- 46032
- 46033
- 46280
- 46290
Questions
Is Carmel tap water safe to drink?
Carmel Water Department had 2 health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Carmel, IN?
3 public water systems serve parts of Carmel. The largest is Carmel Water Department (99,927 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Carmel tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Carmel Water Department had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Carmel homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 22% of Carmel homes as built before 1980 (Indiana: 55%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Carmel Water Department's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.