Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SOUTH BEND WATER WORKS
SOUTH BEND WATER WORKS delivers tap water graded D (64/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 115,000 residents in SOUTH BEND, Indiana using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 574-271-4210.
Is SOUTH BEND tap water safe to drink?
SOUTH BEND WATER WORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (64/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 115,000 residents in SOUTH BEND, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Nitrate, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Bromoform, Chromium (hexavalent), Trichloroacetic acid. 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 SOUTH BEND WATER WORKS (system ID IN5271014) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Missed testing | 11/01/2025 | 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 SOUTH BEND residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SOUTH BEND WATER WORKS.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 2.12 ppt, 2122x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.644 ppb, 161x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 23.1 ppb, 154x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact SOUTH BEND WATER WORKS
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 SOUTH BEND
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC or chloroform 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 64/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
2.12 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2122× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.644 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 161× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
23.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 154× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
6.35 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 106× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.08 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 101× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.97 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 80× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.28 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 76× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
3.58 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.34 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 15× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.99 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 14× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.64 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
4.71 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.9 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.5× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
3.2 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.4× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.113 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.7× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.167 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.192 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.4 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
30.3 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
33.2 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
99.9 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0225 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.745 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.0218 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.105 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.24 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
2.09 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.76 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.11 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.461 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.121 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane Other |
0.00671 ppb | — | 200.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0117 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
1.3 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
1.04 ppb | — | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.679 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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.
SOUTH BEND WATER WORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SOUTH BEND water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.