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Tap water quality report

Columbus, IN

EPA monitoring detected 19 contaminants across the 3 water suppliers serving Columbus. A detection doesn't automatically mean the water is unsafe — see the level at the main supplier for each below, with its EPA source and period.

3
water suppliers
59,914
people served
19
contaminants found
Indiana rankings Lead in Indiana PFAS in Indiana

What was found in Columbus's water

The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.

ContaminantLevel vs EPA limitSuppliersSource
Nitrate
4770 µg/L 48%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21100 µg/L — GARDEN CITY MOBILE HOME PARK · 140 people · 2017
2/3 SYR4
Nitrate-Nitrite
13254.999999999989 µg/L 133%
of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L
Highest in the city: GARDEN CITY MOBILE HOME PARK · 140 people · 2019
1/3 SYR4
Copper
786 µg/L 60%
of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 886.25 µg/L — SOUTHWESTERN BARTHOLOMEW WATER CORP. · 8,652 people · 2017
3/3 SYR4
Fluoride
859.9499999999999 µg/L 21%
of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2017
2/3 SYR4
Barium
60.260000000000005 µg/L 3%
of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2017
2/3 SYR4
TTHM
20.27 µg/L 25%
of the EPA limit 80 µg/L
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.8 µg/L — SOUTHWESTERN BARTHOLOMEW WATER CORP. · 8,652 people · 2019
2/3 SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
7.254999999999998 µg/L 12%
of the EPA limit 60 µg/L
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 19.65 µg/L — SOUTHWESTERN BARTHOLOMEW WATER CORP. · 8,652 people · 2019
2/3 SYR4
Lead
6.4 µg/L 43%
of the EPA limit 15 µg/L
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2017
2/3 SYR4
Trichloroethylene
2.3799999999999994 µg/L 48%
of the EPA limit 5 µg/L
Highest in the city: GARDEN CITY MOBILE HOME PARK · 140 people · 2019
1/3 SYR4
Arsenic
1.77 µg/L 18%
of the EPA limit 10 µg/L
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2017
1/3 SYR4
Combined Uranium
1.7 µg/L 5.7%
of the EPA limit 30 µg/L
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2017
1/3 SYR4
1,1-Dichloroethylene
1.3 µg/L 19%
of the EPA limit 7 µg/L
Highest in the city: GARDEN CITY MOBILE HOME PARK · 140 people · 2019
1/3 SYR4
Tetrachloroethylene
0.6000 µg/L 12%
of the EPA limit 5 µg/L
Highest in the city: GARDEN CITY MOBILE HOME PARK · 140 people · 2019
1/3 SYR4
P-Dichlorobenzene
0.6000 µg/L 0.8%
of the EPA limit 75 µg/L
Highest in the city: GARDEN CITY MOBILE HOME PARK · 140 people · 2019
1/3 SYR4
Pfpea
0.0163 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2025
2/3 UCMR-5
PFBS
0.0096 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2025
2/3 UCMR-5
Pfba
0.0092 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2025
2/3 UCMR-5
Pfhxa
0.0083 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2025
2/3 UCMR-5
Lead
0.0027 mg/L 18%
of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L
Main supplier: COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY · 51,122 people · 2025
3/3 LCR
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Formal violations are listed separately. These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide average. A detection means the lab measured the substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.

Water suppliers serving Columbus

SupplierPopulation served
COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL UTILITY 51,122
SOUTHWESTERN BARTHOLOMEW WATER CORP. 8,652
GARDEN CITY MOBILE HOME PARK 140

Frequently asked questions about Columbus tap water

Is Columbus tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 19 contaminants in the water serving Columbus. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.

How many water suppliers serve Columbus?

3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Columbus, Indiana to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Columbus's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Columbus include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.

Where does this data come from?

Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.