WaterVerge

Is New Harmony, IN Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A-, with 6 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

2K residents served 1 water system PWSID: IN5265007
Overall Score
88.7 / 100
Violations
6 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#82 of 414 in Indiana Top 21% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
A-GRADE
Water Quality Grade
88.7/100
waterverge.com
A- 88.7/100

New Harmony, IN — Water Quality Report

New Harmony's drinking water received a grade of A- (88.7 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,633 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 2.9 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program.

The system has 38 violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. 6 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about New Harmony's water

New Harmony ranks #82 out of 414 cities in Indiana for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

New Harmony relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, New Harmony may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
88.7 out of 100 Grade A-
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
38.7/45
B
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 2.9 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is New Harmony, IN water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

New Harmony's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (88.7/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,633 residents using groundwater (wells).

6
Active Violations
2.9 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
4 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for New Harmony

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into New Harmony's water quality assessment. Grade: A- (88.7/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Violation
2 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).

Disaster
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3238). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Disaster
BLIZZARD OF 96

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-1109). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for New Harmony's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 2.9 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

New Harmony's water system has 38 total violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. 6 remain unresolved. 2 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

OtherMRMCL
Most recent violations:
Jul 2025 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Jul 2023 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Jan 2016 TTHM Resolved
Jan 2016 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Resolved
Sep 2010 Coliform (TCR) Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Posey County has experienced 4 federally declared disasters since 1979. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies. Local water sources include Wabash River.

HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA DR-3238
BLIZZARD OF 96
Flood FEMA DR-1109
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-891

Where does New Harmony's water come from?

New Harmony's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,633 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate. Nearby water bodies include Wabash River (river).

What New Harmony residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in New Harmony's water.

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Monitor alerts during storms

New Harmony's area has a history of flooding. After severe weather, watch for boil water advisories from your local utility.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
2.9 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 19% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

38
Total violations
2
Health-based
6
Active / unresolved
Jul 2025
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

38 Total
6 Active
2 Health-based
32 Resolved
2 SNC
Violations by category
Volatile Organic Chemicals
21
Total Coliform Rule
5
Consumer Confidence Rule
3
Nitrate Rule
3
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
2
Jul 2025 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2023 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Oct 2009 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jul 2009 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jan 1994 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Jan 2016 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2016
Jan 2016 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2016
Sep 2010 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Sep 2010
Jul 2003 Resolved
Nitrate
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 2003
Jul 2003 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jul 2003
Jan 2003 Resolved
Nitrate
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Dec 2003
Sep 2001 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Sep 2001
Jan 1998 Resolved
Tetrachloroethylene
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 1998
Jan 1998 Resolved
CHLOROBENZENE
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 1998
Jan 1998 Resolved
Ethylbenzene
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 1998
Jan 1998 Resolved
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 1998
Jan 1998 Resolved
Xylenes, Total
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 1998
Jan 1998 Resolved
DICHLOROMETHANE
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 1998
Jan 1998 Resolved
Vinyl chloride
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 1998
Showing 20 of 38 violations
Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

4
Declared disasters
Sep 2005
Most recent
Flood
Most common type

Posey County has experienced 4 federally declared disasters since 1979. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA #3238
Apr 1996
BLIZZARD OF 96
Flood FEMA #1109
Jan 1991
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #891
Jul 1979
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #596

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 2.9 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 2.1 ppb from 1994 (5.0 ppb) to 2024 (2.9 ppb).
Contaminant Rankings

See how New Harmony compares by contaminant

Explore where New Harmony ranks among all Indiana cities for specific contaminants.

Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
1,633
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where New Harmony's water comes from

Groundwater

New Harmony's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,633 people through 1 water system.

Local Hydrology

Water bodies near New Harmony

New Harmony is located near 1 notable water body. These water bodies contribute to the regional watershed and may indirectly affect groundwater quality.

Wabash River
river
Infrastructure

Water systems serving New Harmony

System Name PWSID Population Source
NEW HARMONY WATER UTILITY IN5265007 1,633 GW
Regional Comparison

How New Harmony compares

Full Indiana rankings →

New Harmony's score of 88.7/100 is above the average of 70/100 among major Indiana cities. It outscores 8 of 10 nearby cities.

New Harmony (this city)
88.7
Fort Wayne
49.5
Evansville
85.2
Indiana avg
70
City Profile

About New Harmony, IN

Wikipedia →

New Harmony is a historic town on the Wabash River in Harmony Township, Posey County, Indiana. It lies 15 miles (24 km) north of Mount Vernon, the county seat, and is part of the Evansville metropolitan area. The town's population was 690 at the 2020 census.

Economic Profile
$48,611
Median Income
$169,160
Median Home Value
$881/mo
Median Rent
4.3%
Unemployment
Community
48.6
Median Age
391
People / sq mi
30.5%
College Educated
67.7%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is New Harmony, IN tap water safe to drink?

New Harmony's water quality earned a grade of A- (88.7/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #82 out of 414 cities tested in Indiana.

What contaminants are in New Harmony's water?

Lead was measured at 2.9 ppb (90th percentile). 38 violations are on record.

How is New Harmony's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in New Harmony?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does New Harmony's water come from?

New Harmony's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,633 residents.

What health violations has New Harmony's water system had?

New Harmony has 2 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 6 violations remain unresolved.

Is New Harmony's groundwater at risk of contamination?

New Harmony uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 38 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does New Harmony's water compare to other cities?

New Harmony ranks #82 out of 414 cities in Indiana (better than 80% of state cities) and #3308 out of 15744 cities nationally (79th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does New Harmony's small water system affect quality?

New Harmony's system serves approximately 1,633 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 38 violations on record.