What was found in West Lafayette'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.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1895.75 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 1600 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1764.5 µg/L — INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE · 35,533 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1290 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 693.25 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 759 µg/L — INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE · 35,533 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 120.8 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 200 µg/L — INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE · 35,533 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 17.25 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 24.24 µg/L — INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE · 35,533 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 17.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE · 35,533 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 2.86 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 12.1 µg/L — INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE · 35,533 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 10.885 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2016 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 6.075 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.5 µg/L — INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE · 35,533 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 6.69 µg/L 112% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Highest in the city: INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE · 35,533 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 4.053 µg/L 4.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.8285 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.317 µg/L 6.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.105 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.88481 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2016 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.83025 pCi/L 12% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE · 35,533 people · 2016 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.47 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 0.5000 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| PFBS | 0.0174 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0115 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0113 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpes | 0.0084 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0068 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS · 50,000 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0010 mg/L — INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE · 35,533 people · 2023 | 2/2 | 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 West Lafayette
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PURDUE UNIV. WATER WORKS | 50,000 |
| INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - WEST LAFAYETTE | 35,533 |
Frequently asked questions about West Lafayette tap water
Is West Lafayette tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving West Lafayette. 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 West Lafayette?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for West Lafayette, Indiana to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in West Lafayette's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in West Lafayette include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, 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.