Is East Chicago, 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 East Chicago Water Works.
East Chicago Water Works supplies East Chicago (26,370 people).
Water system
East Chicago Water Works
26,370 people · Surface water · EPA ID IN5245012
| 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: 8 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
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.
East Chicago homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for East Chicago city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Hammond 3 mi Hammond Water Works Department | None above limits | 3 ppb |
| Gary 7 mi Indiana American Water – Northwest | None above limits | 3 ppb |
| Schererville 11 mi Schererville Water Department | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Hobart 13 mi Indiana American Water – Northwest | None above limits | 3 ppb |
| Merrillville 14 mi Indiana American Water – Northwest | None above limits | 3 ppb |
| Crown Point 17 mi Crown Point Water Works | None above limits | 0.7 ppb |
East Chicago ZIP codes (1)
- 46312
Questions
Is East Chicago tap water safe to drink?
East Chicago Water Works has had no 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 East Chicago, IN?
East Chicago Water Works, which serves 26,370 people.
Does East Chicago tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. East Chicago Water Works 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 East Chicago homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 91% of East Chicago 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. East Chicago Water Works'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.