Indianapolis Water Quality at a Glance
significant concerns
Is Indianapolis Water Safe to Drink?
Generally Yes, With Moderate Concerns — Citizens Energy Group water meets all federal standards and serves approximately 900,000 customers. Primary concerns include chromium-6 levels averaging 80 ppt (4x higher than levels with negligible cancer risk) and elevated disinfection byproducts from chlorination. An estimated 75,000 homes built before 1950 may have lead service lines — Citizens is replacing these at no cost under a $500 million multi-year programme. PFAS levels remain below EPA MCLs.
⚠️ Key Concerns for Indianapolis Residents in 2026
- Chromium-6: Averaging 80 ppt — approximately 4 times higher than levels with negligible cancer risk; not currently regulated by EPA with a specific MCL
- Disinfection Byproducts: Elevated TTHMs, HAA5, and HAA9 levels linked to long-term cancer risk; within federal limits but above health-guideline thresholds
- Lead Service Lines: ~75,000 homes and businesses built before 1950 may have lead service lines; Citizens’ $500M replacement programme is active with more neighbourhoods added in 2025–2026
- Pesticides: Detections of atrazine, 2,4-D, and simazine in treated water from agricultural runoff into surface water sources
Read the full report below for detailed analysis, treatment information, and actionable recommendations for Indianapolis residents. Also check our live U.S. boil water notices tracker for any active Indianapolis alerts.
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Indianapolis — Indiana — Water Quality Report 2026: PFAS Testing, Lead Service Lines & Safety Across the City
Citizens Energy Group manages water services for the greater Indianapolis area, serving approximately 900,000 customers across Marion County and portions of surrounding counties. As of 2025, the system includes over 4,600 miles of water mains, ten treatment facilities, and various surface and groundwater sources, delivering roughly 125 million gallons daily to the Indianapolis metropolitan area. See how Indianapolis compares to nearby cities on our Indiana water quality overview, or browse our national water quality database for wider context.
Indianapolis draws its drinking water from four primary sources: White River (supplying multiple treatment plants), Geist Reservoir (Fall Creek Treatment Plant), Eagle Creek Reservoir (T.W. Moses Treatment Plant), and Morse Reservoir, alongside a network of groundwater wells. The city’s multi-source approach ensures reliability during drought conditions or source-specific challenges. Two major 2025–2026 milestones stand out: the completion of the DigIndy Tunnel System — a 28-mile deep tunnel capturing an estimated 5 billion gallons of combined sewer overflows annually — and an active $500 million lead service line replacement programme targeting around 75,000 properties. The system’s primary ongoing concerns centre on chromium-6 and disinfection byproducts rather than PFAS, which remains below current EPA MCLs. For real-time alerts, see our live boil water notices tracker.
Indianapolis Water Quality: Current Status (2025–2026)
Latest Testing Results
- Lead Levels: The most recent triennial testing shows 90th percentile lead levels of 7.7 ppb — well below the EPA action level of 15 ppb — reflecting active corrosion control treatment. However, an estimated 55,000–75,000 homes and businesses built before 1950 may still have customer-owned lead service lines. Citizens Energy is replacing these at no cost under its $500 million multi-year programme, with additional neighbourhood projects planned through 2026.
- Testing Scope: Citizens Energy Group conducts over 11,000 water quality tests annually throughout the distribution system, with enhanced monitoring at residential sites, schools, and public facilities.
- Compliance Status: Indianapolis water meets all federal and state drinking water standards set by the EPA and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), maintaining full compliance across all regulated parameters.
Diverse Water Sources
- Surface Water Sources: White River supplies multiple treatment plants; Geist Reservoir feeds the Fall Creek Treatment Plant; Eagle Creek Reservoir feeds the T.W. Moses Treatment Plant; Morse Reservoir provides additional surface water capacity.
- Groundwater Wells: A network of deep wells provides supplementary supply through the South Madison groundwater treatment plant near Lapel and additional aquifer-fed facilities.
- Source Water Protection: Comprehensive watershed management including buffer zone maintenance, agricultural best practices partnerships, and regular source water assessments help reduce contaminant loading from agricultural runoff.
Advanced Treatment Technology
- Multi-Barrier Treatment: Surface water undergoes coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and chlorine disinfection with continuous state-of-the-art monitoring at each stage across ten treatment facilities.
- UV Disinfection: Ultraviolet light treatment at surface water facilities provides enhanced protection against cryptosporidium and other chlorine-resistant pathogens.
- Corrosion Control: Optimised pH adjustment and orthophosphate-based corrosion inhibitors prevent lead and copper leaching from plumbing systems throughout the distribution network.
Major 2025–2026 Infrastructure Milestones
- DigIndy Tunnel System Completed: After 14+ years of construction, Citizens Energy confirmed completion of the DigIndy Tunnel System at end of 2025. The 28-mile deep tunnel — running 250 feet below the city — is designed to capture an estimated 5 billion gallons of combined sewer overflows annually, diverting them away from White River and local waterways to treatment facilities. This is a landmark improvement for Indianapolis waterway health.
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Citizens’ $500 million multi-year programme to eliminate all customer-owned lead service lines is actively underway. The programme replaces lines at no cost to property owners. Additional neighbourhood projects were added in 2025 and further expansion is planned for 2026.
- Citizens–Lebanon Water Supply Programme: A $560 million+ infrastructure expansion is underway to supply Lebanon Utilities as a new wholesale customer by 2031, adding ~52 miles of water mains and expanding two treatment plants. Costs are funded through Indiana Finance Authority loans — not existing customer rates.
Customer Protection Initiatives
Indianapolis provides extensive customer support through the H2O (Help to Others) programme offering bill payment assistance for low-income residents. Citizens Energy offers free lead sampling kits to customers who received lead service line notification letters — available by completing an online request form. The utility maintains a searchable online service line inventory tool so any customer can check their property’s lead line status. The integration of surface and groundwater sources, combined with continuous system upgrades and the newly completed DigIndy tunnel, positions Indianapolis for improved water quality and waterway health over the coming decade. Check our water alert news section for Indiana water quality developments as they emerge.
Recommendations for Indianapolis Residents
Request Water Testing
Contact Citizens Energy Group at (317) 924-3311 or visit citizensenergygroup.com to request a free lead sampling kit — especially important if you received a lead service line notification letter. Testing is particularly recommended for homes built before 1950. Check our water alert news for any new Indiana advisories.
Check for Lead Service Lines
Use Citizens Energy Group’s online service line inventory tool to check whether your property has a lead service line. If it does, the replacement is free — contact (317) 924-3311 or register online. Homes built before 1950 are most at risk. The Lead & Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) finalised in October 2024 require all lead pipes to be replaced within 10 years nationally.
Use Certified Filters
For homes with lead service lines or older plumbing, use NSF Standard 53-certified filters for drinking and cooking water. Activated carbon filters also help reduce chromium-6 and disinfection byproducts. See our water filter recommendations for certified options suited to Indianapolis water concerns.
Run Water Before Use
If water has been sitting in pipes for several hours, run cold water for 2–3 minutes before using for drinking or cooking. Always use cold water for consumption — hot water can contain higher concentrations of lead leached from service lines or internal plumbing. This is particularly important in homes built before 1950.
Report Concerns
Contact Citizens Energy Group’s 24-hour water quality line at (317) 924-3311 for water quality concerns, main breaks, or pressure issues. For emergencies, select option 2. Track any active Indianapolis boil water orders on our live boil water notices tracker.
Quality News About Your Water
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Indianapolis tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Yes, Indianapolis tap water meets all federal and state drinking water standards. Citizens Energy Group employs advanced multi-barrier treatment — filtration, UV disinfection, and chlorination — across ten treatment facilities serving the city.
The most recent lead testing shows 90th percentile levels at 7.7 ppb, well below the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The primary ongoing concerns are chromium-6 averaging 80 ppt (approximately 4x above levels with negligible cancer risk) and elevated disinfection byproducts. PFAS levels remain below current EPA MCLs. Homes built before 1950 may have lead service lines — Citizens Energy is replacing these at no cost. As a precaution, households with lead plumbing should use NSF-certified filters for drinking and cooking. See our water filter recommendations for suitable options.
How can I check if my home has lead pipes?
To determine whether your Indianapolis home has lead service lines or plumbing:
1. Locate your water service line where it enters your home (typically in the basement or crawl space). Lead pipes appear dull grey, don’t respond to magnets, and can be scratched with a key to reveal a silver-like surface.
2. Use Citizens Energy Group’s searchable online service line inventory at citizensenergygroup.com, or call (317) 924-3311 to request a service line verification.
3. Check your home’s age — properties built before 1950 are most likely to have lead service lines in Indianapolis. Citizens estimates around 75,000 properties fall into this category.
If you received a letter from Citizens Energy about lead lines, you can request a free lead sampling kit online. The EPA’s Lead & Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) finalised in October 2024 require all lead service lines to be replaced within 10 years nationally — Citizens’ programme is already well underway.
Why does Indianapolis use multiple water sources?
Indianapolis employs a strategic multi-source water supply approach with several important benefits:
• Supply reliability: Multiple sources ensure water availability during drought conditions or when one source faces a challenge — particularly important for a city of this size.
• Seasonal optimisation: White River, Geist, Eagle Creek, and Morse reservoirs can be drawn upon differently based on seasonal conditions and source quality.
• Quality management: Groundwater sources typically require less treatment than surface water, improving overall system efficiency when blended appropriately.
• Capacity flexibility: The diverse portfolio allows the system to meet peak demand without overtaxing any single source, including supporting the new Citizens–Lebanon Water Supply expansion serving Lebanon Utilities by 2031.
Compare how Indianapolis’ multi-source approach compares with other Midwestern cities on our Indiana water quality page.
Are there water conservation requirements in Indianapolis?
Indianapolis maintains a tiered approach to water conservation based on current conditions:
Normal Conditions:
• Voluntary conservation measures encouraged year-round
• Even/odd day outdoor watering recommended based on address number
• Morning or evening watering preferred (before 10am or after 6pm)
Drought Response Levels:
During declared water shortages, the city may implement mandatory odd/even watering schedules (Level 1), limited outdoor watering to 1–2 days per week (Level 2), or prohibition of non-essential water use (Level 3).
Current conservation status is available at citizensenergygroup.com or by calling (317) 924-3311. For any active emergency restrictions, our live boil water notices tracker covers Indiana alerts in real time.
Contaminants of Concern
Lead
Source: Customer-owned lead service lines and older plumbing components in homes and businesses built before 1950. Citizens Energy has no active lead water mains — lead enters tap water from the service line or internal plumbing after leaving the treatment plant.
Health Effects: Developmental issues and cognitive impairment in children; cardiovascular effects, kidney problems, and reproductive issues in adults. No level of lead exposure is considered completely safe.
Current Levels: 90th percentile value of 7.7 ppb, well below EPA action level. EPA Action Level: 15 ppb; the Lead & Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) finalised October 2024 require all lead service lines to be replaced within 10 years. Use an NSF Standard 53-certified filter if you have lead plumbing — see our filter recommendations.
Chromium-6 & Disinfection Byproducts
Source: Chromium-6 enters the water supply from industrial sources and natural mineral deposits in the watershed. Disinfection byproducts (TTHMs, HAA5, HAA9) form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter during the treatment process.
Health Effects: Chromium-6 is linked to increased cancer risk with long-term exposure. Disinfection byproducts are associated with elevated cancer risk and liver and kidney effects with prolonged consumption at higher levels.
Current Levels: Chromium-6 averages 80 ppt — approximately 4x higher than the level associated with negligible cancer risk, though currently unregulated by a specific EPA MCL. TTHMs, HAA5, and HAA9 exceed health guideline thresholds but remain within federal regulatory limits. Activated carbon point-of-use filters can reduce both chromium-6 and disinfection byproducts — see our water filter recommendations for certified options.
Please read – our information
The information presented on cleanairandwater.net is compiled from official water quality reports, trusted news sources, government websites, and public health resources. While we strive for accuracy and thoroughness in our presentations, we are not scientists, engineers, or qualified water quality professionals.
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