We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Indiana to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Brownstown, Indiana
Brownstown has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Brownstown water report →South Bend, Indiana
South Bend has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 36 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full South Bend water report →New Haven, Indiana
New Haven has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full New Haven water report →Camby, Indiana
Camby has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Camby water report →Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Mishawaka water report →Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fort Wayne water report →Morgantown, Indiana
Morgantown has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Morgantown water report →Danville, Indiana
Danville has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Danville water report →Greensburg, Indiana
Greensburg has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Greensburg water report →East Chicago, Indiana
East Chicago has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full East Chicago water report →Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Vincennes water report →Brownsburg, Indiana
Brownsburg has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Brownsburg water report →Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Indianapolis water report →Whitestown, Indiana
Whitestown has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Whitestown water report →Lizton, Indiana
Lizton has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lizton water report →Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Elkhart water report →Bedford, Indiana
Bedford has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bedford water report →Bargersville, Indiana
Bargersville has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bargersville water report →Schererville, Indiana
Schererville has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Schererville water report →Logansport, Indiana
Logansport has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Logansport water report →Andrews, Indiana
Andrews has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 18 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Andrews water report →Monroeville, Indiana
Monroeville has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 17 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Monroeville water report →Mooresville, Indiana
Mooresville has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 15 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Mooresville water report →Martinsville, Indiana
Martinsville has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Martinsville water report →Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Santa Claus water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 343 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 2 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 341 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brownstown | IN | 25 | 18 | 2 | 13,667 |
| 2 | South Bend | IN | 36 | 16 | 0 | 115,000 |
| 3 | New Haven | IN | 31 | 15 | 0 | 15,700 |
| 4 | Camby | IN | 30 | 15 | 0 | 2,503 |
| 5 | Mishawaka | IN | 28 | 15 | 0 | 49,675 |
| 6 | Fort Wayne | IN | 30 | 14 | 0 | 266,000 |
| 7 | Morgantown | IN | 28 | 14 | 0 | 13,882 |
| 8 | Danville | IN | 28 | 14 | 0 | 10,500 |
| 9 | Greensburg | IN | 27 | 14 | 0 | 12,650 |
| 10 | East Chicago | IN | 24 | 14 | 0 | 29,500 |
| 11 | Vincennes | IN | 20 | 14 | 0 | 18,701 |
| 12 | Brownsburg | IN | 29 | 13 | 0 | 23,750 |
| 13 | Indianapolis | IN | 28 | 13 | 0 | 862,835 |
| 14 | Whitestown | IN | 28 | 13 | 0 | 5,880 |
| 15 | Lizton | IN | 28 | 13 | 0 | 488 |
| 16 | Elkhart | IN | 25 | 13 | 0 | 45,698 |
| 17 | Bedford | IN | 25 | 13 | 0 | 14,000 |
| 18 | Bargersville | IN | 22 | 13 | 0 | 31,425 |
| 19 | Schererville | IN | 19 | 13 | 0 | 30,000 |
| 20 | Logansport | IN | 19 | 13 | 0 | 18,369 |
| 21 | Andrews | IN | 18 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Monroeville | IN | 17 | 13 | 0 | 1,400 |
| 23 | Mooresville | IN | 15 | 13 | 0 | 8,200 |
| 24 | Martinsville | IN | 25 | 12 | 0 | 15,000 |
| 25 | Santa Claus | IN | 24 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Indiana?
Based on 2026 data, Brownstown, IN has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
