Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in South Bend?
Yes, South Bend's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as South Bend 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, South Bend's water utility, South Bend Water Works, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for South Bend was resolved on Sept. 30, 2013. This assessment is based on the South Bend Water Works 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 South Bend Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in South Bend 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 South Bend's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
South Bend Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named South Bend Water Works for South Bend in Indiana. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From July 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2013, South Bend had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
From April 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013, South Bend had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
For the compliance period beginning Aug. 16, 2012, South Bend 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 (GWR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Groundwater Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: E. COLI.
Is there Lead in South Bend Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the South Bend water system, South Bend Water Works, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0026 mg/L of lead in South Bend water. This is 17.3% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from South Bend contained more lead.
While South Bend water testing may have found 0.0026 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 South Bend 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 no military bases near South Bend 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 South Bend 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.
South Bend 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/01/2013 - 09/30/2013 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 07/01/2013 - 09/30/2013 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 04/01/2013 - 06/30/2013 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 04/01/2013 - 06/30/2013 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 08/16/2012 - | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Source Water (GWR) (34) | Ground Water Rule (140) | E. COLI (3014) | Microbials (100) | Groundwater Rule (140) |
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
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| 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.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
South Bend Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | 830 North Michigan Street SOUTH BEND, IN, 46601 |
Existing customers can login to their South Bend Water Works account to pay their South Bend water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your South Bend Water Works 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 South Bend water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your South Bend 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.
Moving to a new house or apartment in South Bend means you will often need to put the water in your name with South Bend Water Works. 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.
Leaving your house or apartment in South Bend means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with South Bend Water Works. 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.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.66 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in South Bend, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
South Bend 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 South Bend's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
2021
CITY OF SOUTH BEND
DRINKING
WATER
QUALITY
ANNUAL REPORT
South Bend Drinking Water meets all state and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
water quality standards.
Delivered
5.44 billion
gallons of safe and reliable drinking water to residents, businesses and visitors in 2020.
An average of
14.9 million
gallons was treated and distributed to 112,400 customers daily.
WHERE DOES
SOUTH BEND DRINKING WATER
COME FROM?
South Bend Water Works utilizes groundwater from the St. Joseph Tributary Valley System and St. Joseph and Hilltop aquifers as its sources for drinking water. There are nine wellfields available for use containing wells ranging from 104 to
237 feet below the ground surface. There is a treatment plant at each wellfield. Some of the treatment plants filter out naturally occurring iron and manganese. Two of the plants have granular activated carbon to remove any volatile organic compounds the water may contain. All treatment plants add fluoride for dental health and chlorine for disinfection. Water Works closely monitors and manages its water quality, going above the level of testing required by regulations.
PROTECTING
DRINKING WATER
WITH BACKFLOW PREVENTION
Did you know that certain hazards in homes or businesses may contaminate drinking water for you and your neighbors if there is no control in place to prevent it? For example, if the system’s water pressure drops and there is no control in place on the irrigation system, chemicals, animal waste and organisms in the lawn may be siphoned back into the drinking water supply. Contamination may also occur through connections at businesses like hair salons, car washes, bars and restaurants, etc. To prevent contaminants from entering the drinking water, Indiana regulations direct local utilities to implement a cross connection control program that requires customers with certain hazards to have an air gap or approved backflow prevention device installed, maintained and tested at least annually by a certified tester. Test results must be reported to the Utility.
To learn more, visit Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM) Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Manual online at http://bit.ly/BFPManual. Questions can be emailed to backflow@southbendin.gov.
CONTACT INFORMATION
This report has been prepared by the Department of Public Works – Division of Utilities.. For more information on water quality, contact waterquality@southbendin. gov or 574.235.5994. For
Este informe contiene información muy importante. Tradúzcalo o hable con algien que lo entienda bien. Para discutir esta información en español, por favor llame al 311.
2020 WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS
Note: Not all contaminants are required to be analyzed annually. The year those contaminants were detected is listed in the report.
REGULATED CONTAMINANTS DETECTED
Contaminant
(unit of measure)
EPA’s
Ideal
Goal
(MCLG)
Highest
Level
Allowed
(MCL)
Range of Results
Average
Level
Detected
Any Violations?
Typical Source
of the Contaminant
Regulated Inorganic Contaminants
Arsenic (ppb) |
0 |
10 |
ND - 5.7 |
ND |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits, runoff |
|
|
|
|
|
|
from orchards and glass or electronic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
waste |
Barium (ppm) |
2 |
2 |
0.033 - 0.270 |
0.106 |
No |
Discharge from drilling waste or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
metal refineries, erosion of natural |
|
|
|
|
|
|
deposits |
Chromium (ppb) |
100 |
100 |
ND - 2.7 |
1.1 |
No |
Discharge from steel and pulp mills, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
erosion of natural deposits |
Fluoride (ppm) |
4 |
4 |
0.2 - 0.9 |
0.7 |
No |
Water additive for strong teeth, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
erosion of natural deposits, discharge |
|
|
|
|
|
|
from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
Nickel (ppb) |
100 |
100 |
ND - 2.1 |
ND |
No |
Discharge from electroplating, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
erosion of natural deposits |
Nitrate as Nitrogen |
10 |
10 |
ND - 6.9 |
1.7 |
No |
Runoff from fertilizer, leaking septic |
(ppm) |
|
|
|
|
|
tanks, sewage, erosion of natural |
|
|
|
|
|
|
deposits |
Regulated Organic Contaminants |
|
|
|
|
|
70 |
70 |
ND - 1.0 |
ND |
No |
|
Dichloroethylene (ppb) |
|
|
|
|
|
2019 Radioactive Contaminants
Discharge from industrial chemical factories
Combined Radium |
0 |
5 |
0.48 - 1.25 |
0.86 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
(pCi/L) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Alpha (pCi/L) |
0 |
15 |
3.90 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
2020 WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS
Note: Not all contaminants are required to be analyzed annually. The year those contaminants were detected is listed in the report.
Contaminant |
EPA’s |
Highest Level |
Range |
Range of |
Highest |
(unit of measure) |
Ideal |
Allowed for |
of |
Rolling |
Rolling |
|
Goal |
Rolling An- |
Individual |
Annual |
Annual |
|
(MCLG) |
nual Average |
Results |
Averages |
Average |
|
|
(MCL) |
|
|
|
Disinfection and Disinfection
Any Violations?
Typical Source of the Contaminant
Free Chlorine |
(MRDLG) |
(MRDL) 4.0 |
0.3 - 1.7 |
1 - 1 |
1 |
No |
Drinking water |
Residual (ppm) |
4.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
disinfection |
Total Trihalomethanes |
NA |
80 |
4.9 - 40.5 |
14.5 - 25.1 |
25.1 |
No |
|
(ppb) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
water disinfection |
Haloacetic Acids (ppb) |
NA |
60 |
ND - 5.6 |
2.0 - 3.7 |
3.7 |
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
water disinfection |
Contaminant
(unit of measure)
EPA’s
Ideal
Goal
(MCLG)
Highest Level Allowed (MCL)
Range of Results
# Positive Any |
Typical Source |
Samples/ Violations? |
of the Contaminant |
Total # |
|
Collected |
|
Microbial Contaminants
Total Coliform |
0 |
5% of monthly |
0 - 0.7% |
5/1727 |
No |
Naturally present in the |
(% Positive/month) |
|
samples positive |
|
|
|
environment |
E. Coli |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0/1727 |
No |
Human and animal waste |
(# Positive/month) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total coliforms are a group of closely related, mostly harmless bacteria that live in soil and water as well as the gut of animals. Since total coliforms are common inhabitants of ambient water and may be injured by environmental stresses (lack of nutrients) and water treatment (chlorine disinfection) in a manner similar to many pathogens, EPA considers them a useful indicator of these pathogens. Total coliform samples are also tested for E.coli. E. coil is a total coliform that is commonly found in the intestines of animals and humans.
Contaminant
(unit of measure)
EPA’s
Ideal
Goal
(MCLG)
EPA’s |
Number of |
Our 90th |
Any |
Typical Source |
90th |
Samples Over |
Percentile |
Violations? |
of the Contaminant |
Percentile |
Action Level |
|
|
|
Action |
|
|
|
|
Level |
|
|
|
|
2019 Lead and Copper
Copper (ppm) |
1.3 |
1.3 |
0 |
0.198 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corrosion of household plumbing |
Lead (ppb) |
0 |
15 |
0 |
2.6 |
No |
Corrosion of household plumbing |
Compliance for the lead and copper rule is based on whether 90% of samples have results less than EPA’s Action Level (AL). 48 samples were collected from homes believed to have a lead service line or lead pipes and two samples from homes that may have copper pipes with lead solder.
2020 WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS
Note: Not all contaminants are required to be analyzed annually. The year those contaminants were detected is listed in the report.
UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS
Unregulated Contaminant
(unit of measure)
EPA’s Ideal Highest Level Range
Goal (MCLG) Allowed (MCL) of
Results
Average |
Any |
Typical Source |
Level |
Violations? |
of the Contaminant |
Detected |
|
|
Unregulated Organic Contaminants
Bromodichloromethane (ppb) |
0 |
No MCL |
ND - 2.1 |
ND |
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
water disinfection |
Bromoform (ppb) |
0 |
No MCL |
ND - 1.9 |
ND |
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
water disinfection |
Chlorodibromomethane (ppb) |
60 |
No MCL |
ND - 3.7 |
ND |
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
water disinfection |
Chloroform (ppb) |
70 |
No MCL |
ND - 6.6 |
ND |
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
water disinfection |
UNREGULATED CONTAMINANT MONITORING RULE SAMPLING (UCMR 4)
The EPA uses the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule to collect data for contaminants that are suspected to be present in drinking water and do not have
to develop regulatory decisions for emerging contaminants.
Unregulated Contaminant |
Sample |
Range of |
Average |
(unit of measure) |
Year |
Concentrations |
Concentration |
|
|
Found |
Found |
2019 Unregulated Disinfection |
|
||
Bromochloroacetic acid (ppb) |
2019 |
1.42 - 2.14 |
1.65 |
Bromodichloroacetic acid (ppb) |
2019 |
ND - 1.08 |
0.669 |
Chlorodibromoacetic acid (ppb) |
2019 |
0.503 - 1.36 |
0.874 |
Dibromoacetic acid (ppb) |
2019 |
0.967 - 1.53 |
1.18 |
Dichloroacetic acid (ppb) |
2019 |
0.891 - 1.38 |
1.11 |
Monobromoacetic acid (ppb) |
2019 |
ND - 0.442 |
ND |
Tribromoacetic acid (ppb) |
2019 |
ND - 2.36 |
ND |
Trichloroacetic acid (ppb) |
2019 |
ND - 0.65 |
ND |
2019 Unregulated Contaminants in Finished Water |
|
|
|
Manganese (ppb) Current SMCL 50 ppb |
2019 |
ND - 162 |
28.7 |
2019 Unregulated Contaminants in Raw Source Water |
|
||
Bromide (ppb) |
2019 |
ND - 128 |
51.5 |
Total Organic Carbon (ppb) |
2019 |
ND - 1260 |
ND |
EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION
Commonly Found
Drinking Water Contaminants
The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the land surface or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material. It can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity. Contaminants that may be present include the following:
- Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations or wildlife.
- Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
- Pesticides and herbicides may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff or residential uses.
- Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.
- Radioactive contaminants can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, IDEM and EPA impose regulations that limit certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants
in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.
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 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426.4791.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons, such as people undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, 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 healthcare providers. The EPA and Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426.4791.
Nitrate in Drinking Water
Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 parts per million is a health risk for infants of less than 6 months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, seek advice from your healthcare provider. Nitrate levels can be found under the Regulated Contaminants section.
Lead in Drinking Water
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. South Bend Water Works is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When water
has been sitting for several hours, minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing the tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.
Although South Bend Water Works has always met the regulations for lead, it is still possible for some lead to get into your water if you have lead pipes or a lead service line. Residential customers can request a free lead test by emailing waterquality@southbendin.gov or by calling 574.235.5994. To view our Homeowner’s Guide to Managing Lead in Drinking Water, visit southbendin.gov/leadwaterfacts
More information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps to minimize exposure is available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Arsenic in Drinking Water
While your drinking water meets EPA standards for arsenic, it does contain low levels. EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
To view the frequently requested water quality parameters, visit
southbendin.gov/
waterworks.
TERMS & MEASUREMENTS
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a system must follow.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level
Goal (MCLG):
The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin
of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant
Level (MRDL):
The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG does not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
ND: Not detected. ND is used when some samples or the average results from
all samples is below the level that the contaminant can be detected.
pCi/L: Picocuries per liter, used to measure radioactivity.
ppb: Parts per billion or micrograms per liter (μg/L)
ppm: Parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL):
Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Division of Utilities
MAYOR JAMES MUELLER
South Bend Municipal Utilities • 125 W Colfax Ave. • South Bend, IN 46601
southbendin.gov
Contaminants
South Bend Water Works
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: 112400
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Groundwater
- Total: 26
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Arsenic
- Bromodichloromethane
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Nitrate
- Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Other Detected Contaminants
- 1%2C1%2C1-Trichloroethane
- 1%2C1-Dichloroethane
- 1%2C4-Dioxane
- Barium
- Bromoform
- Carbon tetrachloride
- Chlorate
- Chlorodifluoromethane
- Chloroform
- Chromium (total)
- cis-1%2C2-Dichloroethylene
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- m-Dichlorobenzene
- Molybdenum
- Strontium
- Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
- Trichloroethylene
- Vanadium
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
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
According to the newest water quality report by EPA(US Environmental Protection Agency), the tap water in South Bend, Indiana, is safe to drink. The report shows that water quality passed all parameters for safe drinking water.
Under the City of South Bend Public Works Department, the South Bend Water Works provides water for about 112,400 residents living in the South Bend area.
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act’s authority, the EPA requires the South Bend Water Works Department to assess local water quality each year and distribute a Consumer Confidence Water Quality Report.
The South Bend, Indiana’s primary source of water comes from groundwater of the Saint Joseph Aquifer. The Saint Joseph Tributary Valley System, and the Hilltop Aquifer as its drinking water origin. There are nine well fields ready for use containing wells extending from 106 to 237 feet beneath the ground surface.
South Bend Water Works regularly conducts thorough testing on groundwater, water being treated, and water being sent to homes, schools, and businesses. South Bend goes beyond the level of testing required by regulations to closely monitor and manage its water quality at all times.
Aging pipes and extreme weather changes often lead to “main breaks” throughout South Bend. Often, the water needs to be turned off to complete the necessary repairs. Valves in the repair area are turned to isolate the leak, and customers within the isolated area lose water pressure. When this occurs, South Bend Water Works distributes the “Precautionary Boil Water Advisory” hang tags to affected homes and