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Is Carmel Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:48 pm, August 8, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Carmel?

Yes, Carmel's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Carmel has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.

According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Carmel's water utility, Carmel Water Department, had 1 health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Carmel was resolved on Oct. 31, 2021. This assessment is based on the Carmel Water Department water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.

While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.

The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.

Water Quality Report for Carmel Tap Water

The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Carmel tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.

Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.

EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.

There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.

We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Carmel's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.

Carmel Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years

Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Carmel Water Department for Carmel in Indiana. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

From Oct. 1, 2021 to Oct. 31, 2021, Carmel had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Revised Total Coliform Rule.

From Aug. 1, 2013 to Aug. 31, 2013, Carmel had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Source Water (LT2) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Surface Water Treatment Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Turbidity.

Is there Lead in Carmel Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Carmel water system, Carmel Water Department, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.00506 mg/L of lead in Carmel water. This is 33.7% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Carmel contained more lead.

While Carmel water testing may have found 0.00506 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.

No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.

Are there PFAS in Carmel Tap Water?

Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON - near Carmel with suspected leaks.

With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Carmel has been evaluated for yet.

Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.

Carmel SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years

Compliance Period Status Health-Based? Category Code Code Rule Code Contaminant Code Rule Group Code Rule Family Code
10/01/2021 - 10/31/2021 Resolved Yes Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) (1A) Revised Total Coliform Rule (111) Revised Total Coliform Rule (8000) Microbials (100) Total Coliform Rules (110)
08/01/2013 - 08/31/2013 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring, Source Water (LT2) (32) Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (123) Turbidity (0100) Microbials (100) Surface Water Treatment Rules (120)

What do these Violations Mean?

Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.

Health Based Violations

  1. Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
  2. Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
  3. Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.

Non-Health Based Violations

  1. Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
  2. Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
  3. Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.

SDWA Table Key

Field Description
Compliance Period Dates of the compliance period.
Status Current status of the violation.
  • Resolved - The violation has at least one resolving enforcement action. In SDWIS, this indicates that either the system has returned to compliance from the violation, the rule that was violated was no longer applicable, or no further action was needed.
  • Archived - The violation is not Resolved, but is more than five years past its compliance period end date. In keeping with the Enforcement Response Policy, the violation no longer contributes to the public water system's overall compliance status. Unresolved violations are also marked as Archived when a system ceases operations (becomes inactive).
  • Addressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and is addressed by one or more formal enforcement actions.
  • Unaddressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and has not been addressed by formal enforcement.
show details
Health-Based? Whether the violation is health based.
Category Code
The category of violation that is reported.
  • TT - Treatment Technique Violation
  • MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
  • Other - Other Violation
  • MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level Violation
  • MR - Monitoring and Reporting
  • MON - Monitoring Violation
  • RPT - Reporting Violation
show details
Code A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table.
Contaminant Code A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation.
Rule Code Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rule
  • 121 - Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 122 - Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 123 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Ground Water Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 331 - Nitrates
  • 332 - Arsenic
  • 333 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 111 - Revised Total Coliform Rule
show details
Rule Group Code Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
  • 120 - Surface Water Treatment Rules
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Groundwater Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 330 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rules
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
show details
Rule Family Code Code for rule family.
  • 100 - Microbials
  • 200 - Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 300 - Chemicals
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
show details

For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.

Carmel Water - Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO I CONTACT CARMEL CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Carmel water provider, Carmel Water Department, please use the information below.
By Mail: 4915 East 106th Street
CARMEL, IN, 46280
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their Carmel Water Department account to pay their Carmel water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your Carmel Water Department bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Carmel water bill.

Want to pay without an account?

If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Carmel water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.

HOW TO START & STOP CARMEL WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Carmel means you will often need to put the water in your name with Carmel Water Department. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.

Start Service Form

Want to create a new account?

Leaving your house or apartment in Carmel means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Carmel Water Department. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.

Stop Service Form

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Carmel tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 35% Low
  • Water Pollution 41% Moderate
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 65% High
  • Water Quality 59% Moderate

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Carmel, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Carmel Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)

The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Carmel's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.

Rain on Main in the

Arts & Design District

Carmel’s Annual Water Event: Rain on Main!

This year, Rain on Main will debut at Allied Solutions’ Meet Me on Main Saturday, August 14. The barrels will remain on Main Street between 1st Avenue NE/SE and 4th Ave NW/SW through the next week for everyone’s enjoyment.

On Saturday, August 21 the barrels will then be re-located to the Carmel Farmers Market where they will be on display and auctioned off to the highest bidders via a virtual silent auction. Net proceeds from the auction will be used to fund water education signage in Carmel Clay Parks. The initial signs have been installed in Founders Park, 116th and Hazel Dell Parkway.

Rain on Main is possible due to main sponsorship by Greenscape Geeks, a landscape

architecture and landscaping company that specializes in sustainable and eco-friendly landscape design, installation and maintenance. The event is also supported by Carmel businesses Tom Wood Collision, White’s Ace Hardware and Sherwin-Williams Automotive. Rain on Main is organized by City of Carmel Utilities, Carmel Department of Storm Water Management and Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District. Rain barrels continue to grow in popularity across the country; beautifully painted rain barrels increase

their desirability and encourage water conservation by the use of recycled rainwater

Rain barrels sit under gutter down spouts to collect and store rainwater from roofs that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains, streams and rivers. The collected water can then be used to water plants in the landscape instead of using treated water which saves water and energy.

More information about the Rain on Main can be found at www.RainOnMain.com or www.Facebook.com/RainOnMain

Our 3-Step Water Treatment Process

Questions?

If you have any questions about this report or concerning

your water utility, please contact Carmel Utilities at 317-571-2443 or go to the Utilities page on the City of Carmel website at www.carmel.in.gov

For maintenance concerns or questions about hydrants, taps or mains, call the water utilities operations facility at 317-733-2855.

EPA’s

Safe Drinking Water

(800) 426-4791

www.EPA.gov

CITY OF CARMEL

Jim Brainard, Mayor

One Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032

Carmel’s Water Supply Source

Carmel’s water supply comes from a ground water source called an aquifer. The aquifer is commonly referred to

as the Upper White River Basin Watershed. Twenty wells located throughout the city pump water from the aquifer

2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT

We are pleased to report that your

tap water met all

Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA)

and state standards in 2020.

to four water plants for treatment. The production wells range in depth from 49 to 108 feet deep, are 10 to 36 inches in diameter, and have pumping capacities ranging from 175 to 2,800 gallons per minute.

  1. Iron Removal–The water treatment plant aerates the water to oxidize the soluble iron found naturally in well water. The oxidized iron adheres to itself forming clumps that are filtered out of the water by iron filters.
  2. Water Softened–Then, the iron filtered water passes through a process where the water is softened to eight grains hardness, which is considered moderately hard water. Should you desire water that has been softened to zero (0) grains hardness, a home softener will be needed. During periods of extremely high summer water usage, the level of softening may be decreased to meet customer demand.
  3. Chlorine and Fluoride Added–Chlorine is added to destroy any harmful bacteria present and to maintain a level of protection as the water travels through the distribution system. Fluoride is added to help strengthen resistance to cavities in teeth. Following the injection of chlorine and fluoride, the water enters the distribution system to be delivered to Carmel’s homes and businesses.

People with Compromised Immune Systems

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Source of Carmel Clay’s water supply that comes from Citizens Water

White River supplies two of the four surface water treatment plants: White River and White River North. Morse Reservoir, near Noblesville, stores water to assure a dependable supply in the White River to these plants. Fall Creek is another surface water supply. Geist Reservoir stores water to assure an adequate supply

in Fall Creek for the Fall Creek Treatment Plant.

A number of wells are used intermittently to supplement the supplies to the White River, White River North, and Fall Creek plants. Citizens Water also receives some surface water from Eagle Creek Reservoir which supplies water to the T.W. Moses plant.

Currently, Citizens Water has five groundwater stations that serve smaller portions of its service area. These are White River North, Geist Station, Harding Station, South Well Field, and Ford Road Plant. These groundwater stations treat water pumped from underground water sources called aquifers.

Hoosier Water

Guardian Award

Awarded to communities who go above and beyond the state’s requirements for protecting their drinking water supply.

Groundwater Guardian

Educates people and

inspires action to ensure

sustainable, clean

groundwater for future

generations.

2020 WATER QUALITY RESULTS

Carmel Utilities routinely monitors for constituents in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. This table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2020. As water travels over the land or underground, it can pick up substances or contaminants. The chart below gives quick look at some of the substances that the EPA requires the utility to test for. The contaminant is listed to the left, followed by the maximum amount allowed by regulations and then the amount that we found in our water. The tests are performed on treated or “finished” water (excluding the last three listed in this chart). See the definitions at the bottom of the chart.

Water Purity Information provided by United States Environment Protection Agency

All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by substances that are naturally occurring or man made. These substances can be microbes, inorganic or organic chemicals and radioactive substances.

All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.

More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800-426-4791).

 

REGULATED SUBSTANCES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CARMEL WATER UTILITY

CARMEL-CLAY WATER UTILITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PWSID# 5229004

 

PWSID# 5229024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUBSTANCES

YEAR

MCL

MCLG

SYSTEM

SYSTEM

RANGE

SYSTEM

SYSTEM

RANGE

 

 

 

(UNIT OF MEASURE)

SAMPLED

(MRDL)

[MRDLG]

WIDE [AVG] WIDE [MAX] LOW-HIGH

WIDE [AVG]

WIDE [MAX]

LOW-HIGH

VIOLATIONS

TYPICAL SOURCE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arsenic (ppb)

2020

10

0

0.3

1.2

BDL-1.2

ND

ND

ND

NO

Erosion of natural depoits

 

Atrazine (ppb)

2020

3

3

ND

ND

ND

0.34

2.3

ND-2.3

NO

Herbicide Runoff

 

Barium (ppm)

2020

2

2

0.04

0.094

ND - 0.094

0.12

0.27

0.032-0.27

NO

Natural Deposits

 

Chlorine (ppm)

2020

4

4

1.03

1.38

0.48 - 1.38

 

0.9

0.5-0.9

NO

Water Additive Used to Control Microbes

 

Combined Radium (pCi/L)

2019

5

0

 

Results Pending

N/A

1.73

0.5 - 1.73

NO

Erosion of Natural Deposit

 

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (ppb)

2020

6

0

0.15

0.63

ND-0.63

ND

ND

ND

NO

Discharge from rubber or chemical factories

 

Fluoride (ppm)

2020

4

4

0.71

1.25

0.16-1.25

0.66

1.3

0.10-1.3

NO

Natural Deposits and Treatment Additive

 

Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon & Uranium (pCi/L) 2019

15

0

 

Results Pending

N/A

6.7

-0.28-6.7

NO

Erosion of Natural Deposit

 

Haloacetic Acid [HAA] (ppb)

2020

60

N/A

9.67

14.8

5.22-14.8

30.7

43

14.4-43

NO

By-Product of Chlorination Treatment

 

Nitrate (ppm)

2020

10

10

0.31

1.01

ND - 1.01

0.77

4.6

ND-4.6

NO

Fertilizers, Septic Tank Leachate

 

Selenium (ppb)

2020

50

50

0.86

2.7

1.1-2.7

0.67

2.4

ND-2.4

NO

Discharge from petroleum & chemical factories

 

Simazine (ppb)

2020

4

4

ND

ND

ND

0.021

0.7

ND-0.70

NO

Herbicide Runoff

 

TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb)

2020

80

N/A

31.8

44.8

20.5-44.8

52.2

72.8

36.9-72.8

NO

By-Product of Chlorination Treatment

 

Total Coliform Bacteria (% positive

2020

5%

 

0.01%

1.1%

0% - 4.4%

0.06%

0.270%

0% - 0.27%

NO

Naturally Present in the Environment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turbidity (NTU)

2020

1

N/A

0.11

1.2

0.04-1.2

0.08

0.24

0.01-0.24

NO

Soil Runoff

 

Turbidity

2020

95%

< 0.3

N/A

N/A

99%

N/A

N/A

100%

NO

Soil Runoff

 

(Lowest monthly percent of samples meeting limit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uranium (ppb)

2019

30

0

 

Results Pending

N/A

9.7

ND - 9.7

NO

Erosion of Natural Deposit

 

Xylenes, Total (ppb)

2020

10,000

10,000

ND

ND

ND

0.028

0.64

ND-.064

NO

Discharge from petroleum & chemical factories

 

Tap water samples were collected for lead and copper

AL

MCLG

CARMEL WATER UTILITY

CARMEL-CLAY WATER UTILITY

 

 

 

analyses from samples sites throughout the community

 

 

 

90th percentile

90th percentile

 

 

 

 

Copper (ppm)

2020

1.3

1.3

0.133

0.168

0 of 30 > AL

0.691

1.1

0 of 10 > AL

NO

Corrosion of Customers Plumbing

 

Lead (ppb)

2020

15

0

5.06

7.62

0 of 30 > AL

BDL

1.6

0 of 10 > AL

NO

Corrosion of Customers Plumbing

 

SECONDARY SUBSTANCES

 

SMCL

MCGL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aluminum (ppb)

2020

200

 

ND

ND

ND

44

180

ND-180

NO

Natural Deposits and Treatment Additive

 

Chloride (ppm)

2020

250

 

ND

ND

ND

67

170

20-170

NO

Natural Deposits and Treatment Additive

 

Hardness (grains/gal)

2020

N/A

 

11.5

30

4-30

15

21

7-21

NO

Errosion of Natural Deposit; Leaching

 

Iron (ppm)

2020

0.3

 

0.02

0.09

ND-0.09

BDL

0.086

ND-0.086

NO

Errosion of Natural Deposit; Leaching

 

Maganese (ppm)

2020

0.05

 

ND

ND

ND

BDL

0.11

ND-0.11

NO

Errosion of Natural Deposit; Leaching

 

Metolachlor (ppb)

2020

N/A

 

ND

ND

ND

0.027

0.18

ND-0.18

NO

Herbicide Runoff

 

Nickel (ppb)

2020

N/A

 

BDL

2

ND-2

BDL

2.5

ND - 2.5

NO

Errosion of Natural Deposit; Leaching

 

pH (Units)

2020

6.5-8.5

 

7.68

8.2

6.9-8.2

7.8

8.4

7.2-8.4

NO

 

 

Sodium (ppm)

2020

N/A

 

155

183

98.3-183

42

140

6.8-140

NO

Errosion of Natural Deposit; Leaching

 

Sulfate (ppm)

2020

250

 

ND

ND

ND

44

170

11-170

NO

Errosion of Natural Deposit; Leaching

 

Zinc (ppb)

2020

5000

 

ND

ND

ND

BDL

8

ND - 8

NO

Natural Deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNTREATED SOURCE WATER DATA

 

 

 

CARMEL WATER UTILITY

CARMEL-CLAY WATER UTILITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average/Max/Range

Average/Max/Range

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cryptosporidium (org/10L)

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

0.62/5/ND-5

 

 

 

 

Giardia (org/10L)

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

2.3/36/ND-36

 

 

 

 

TOC (ppm)

 

 

 

1.26/1.65/1.04-1.65

 

3.7/6.8/2.4-6.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

 

AL (Action Level) – The concentration of

 

pCi/L ( Picocuries per liter) - picocuries per

 

MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal)

 

 

a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers

 

liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

 

The “Goal” (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant

treatment or other requirements which a

 

mrem/yr ( Millirems per year) -

 

in drinking water below which there is no known

water system must follow.

 

 

 

measure of radiation absorbed by the body.

 

or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a

BDL (Below Detectable Limits) –

 

 

 

NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit) -

 

margin of safety.

laboratory analysis indicates the constituent

 

 

MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant

 

nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the

 

is below detectable limits of the instruments

 

 

 

clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is

 

Level) – The highest level of a disinfectant

and methods used to detect this constituent.

 

 

 

just noticeable to the average person.

 

allowed in drinking water. There is convincing

NA (Not Applicable) – not required to

 

 

 

TT (Treatment Technique) - A treatment

 

evidence that addition of a disinfectant is

test for this constituent during the 2020

 

 

necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

 

technique is a required process intended

 

calendar year.

 

 

MRDLG (Maximum Residual Disinfectant

 

to reduce the level of a contaminant in

 

ND (Non-Detects) - laboratory analysis

 

 

 

drinking water.

 

Level Goal) – The level of a drinking water

indicates that the constituent is not present.

 

MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) -

 

disinfectant below which there is no known or

PPM (Parts per million) - one part

 

 

expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect

 

The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is the highest

 

substance per million parts water

 

level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking

 

the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control

(or milligrams per liter)

 

water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs

 

microbial contaminants.

PPB (Parts per billion) - one part

 

as feasible using the best available treatment

 

 

substance per billion parts water

 

technology.

 

 

(or Micrograms per liter)

Water Contaminants Before Treatment

Testing for Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic organism that lives in the intestines of animals and people. When ingested this microscopic pathogen may cause a disease called cryptosporidiosis, which has flu-like symptoms. Although there has been no cryptosporidium found in treated, finished drinking water, cryp- tosporidium is found in source water such as White River, Fall Creek and Eagle Creek Reservoir. The U.S. EPA has created the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2) for the sole purpose of reducing illness linked with the contaminant Crypto- sporidium and other disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water. The rule will bolster existing regulations and

provide a higher level of protection of your drinking water supply.

Lead in Home Plumbing

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Carmel Utilities is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components.

When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.

Information on lead in drinking water,

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick-up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

  • Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treat- ment plants, septic systems,

agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

  • Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
  • Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, storm water runoff, and residential uses.
  • Organic chemicals, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and

petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.

  • Radioactive materials, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regula- tions that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Lead in Water

Carmel Utilities regularly tests drinking water for lead and takes steps in its treatment process to ensure corrosive elements do not result in elevated levels of lead in customer tap water. Lead exposure comes primarily from water service lines which extend from the water main to the home and/or from interior plumbing components. Homes built before 1950 are more likely to have lead pipes. Homes built before 1986 may have lead soldering. Carmel Utilities lead testing comes exclusively from homes most likely to have lead in its plumbing system. If you would like to determine if your home has lead in its plumbing components or service line, hire a licensed plumber who can best advise you.

testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the

Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Contaminants


Carmel Water Department

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Utility details

  • Serves: 86672
  • Data available: 2012-2017
  • Data Source: Purchased groundwater under influence of surface water
  • Total: 19

Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines

  • Arsenic
  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Bromoform
  • Chloroform
  • Dibromochloromethane
  • Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
  • Uranium

Other Detected Contaminants

  • Antimony
  • Barium
  • Chlorodifluoromethane
  • Chromium (hexavalent)
  • Chromium (total)
  • Fluoride
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Molybdenum
  • Nitrate
  • Selenium
  • Strontium

Reminder

Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.

Sources and Resources

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