Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water graded B (81/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 99,927 residents in CARMEL, Indiana using groundwater under direct influence. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 317-571-4144.
Is CARMEL tap water safe to drink?
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water that earns a grade of B (81/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a good rating, with only minor concerns relative to health-based guidelines.
The utility serves 99,927 residents in CARMEL, drawing from groundwater under direct influence.
Public testing data identifies 5 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Nitrate and nitrite, Radium, combined (-226 and -228). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT (system ID IN5229004) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Water Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2024 | Open |
| Ground Water Rule | Required treatment not met | 01/01/2024 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for CARMEL residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 13.9 ppb, 231x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 31.2 ppb, 208x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 13.5 ppb, 135x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for CARMEL
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 81/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
13.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 231× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
31.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 208× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
13.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 135× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.05 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 15× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.64 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.123 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
81.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.22 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.00167 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.386 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.123 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0142 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.711 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
0.957 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Hamilton County, Indiana. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for CARMEL water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.