Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Indiana Drinking Water

Ranked by nitrate violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

267

Cities Tested

267

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

3.3 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

305

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Indiana: what the data shows

Indiana has 267 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 267 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

Indiana

100%

267 of 267 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

8001 of 8001 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across Indiana

Each dot is a city with nitrate violation data. Cities with at least one nitrate-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in Indiana

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All Indiana cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Peru	56 violations	Yes	69	D
2	Warsaw	30 violations	Yes	46	F
3	Goshen	27 violations	Yes	24	D
4	Bloomingdale	24 violations	Yes	22	D
5	Montezuma	21 violations	Yes	20	C-
6	Cedar Lake	18 violations	Yes	22	F
7	Lafayette	16 violations	Yes	24	F
8	Monticello	16 violations	Yes	24	D
9	Columbus	15 violations	Yes	22	B-
10	Kokomo	14 violations	Yes	24	F
11	Hope	12 violations	Yes	4	A-
12	Poseyville	12 violations	Yes	12	B-
13	Terre Haute	11 violations	Yes	8	F
14	Michigan City	11 violations	Yes	12	F
15	Plymouth	10 violations	Yes	16	D
16	Ossian	10 violations	Yes	1	A-
17	Crawfordsville	9 violations	Yes	15	F
18	Liberty	9 violations	Yes	15	B
19	Connersville	8 violations	Yes	4	C+
20	Zionsville	8 violations	Yes	29	F
21	Greensburg	7 violations	Yes	29	D
22	Mount Vernon	7 violations	Yes	37	B-
23	Bristol	7 violations	Yes	9	D+
24	Carthage	7 violations	Yes	5	A-
25	Muncie	6 violations	Yes	7	D
26	Mishawaka	6 violations	Yes	8	C+
27	Noblesville	6 violations	Yes	24	D
28	New Castle	6 violations	Yes	4	B+
29	Wabash	6 violations	Yes	30	F
30	Syracuse	6 violations	Yes	5	B+
31	Paxton	6 violations	Yes	5	A
32	Pierceton	6 violations	Yes	42	D
33	Winslow	6 violations	Yes	17	C+
34	Reynolds	6 violations	Yes	1	C+
35	Indianapolis	5 violations	Yes	31	C+
36	Fort Wayne	5 violations	Yes	17	D
37	Bloomington	5 violations	Yes	45	D
38	Shelbyville	5 violations	Yes	19	C+
39	Huntington	5 violations	Yes	16	F
40	Angola	5 violations	Yes	42	F
41	Decatur	5 violations	Yes	8	C-
42	Westville	5 violations	Yes	11	D
43	Fairmount	5 violations	Yes	7	C
44	Rosedale	5 violations	Yes	4	C-
45	Lynnville	5 violations	Yes	15	C+
46	Lanesville	5 violations	Yes	2	C+
47	Granger	5 violations	Yes	1	B+
48	Sharpsville	5 violations	Yes	2	D+
49	South Bend	4 violations	Yes	7	F
50	Bedford	4 violations	Yes	14	B-
51	Santa Claus	4 violations	Yes	8	B+
52	Churubusco	4 violations	Yes	9	C+
53	Woodburn	4 violations	Yes	2	A-
54	Dana	4 violations	Yes	1	C+
55	Elkhart	3 violations	Yes	9	B
56	Greenfield	3 violations	Yes	3	B-
57	Laporte	3 violations	Yes	3	D+
58	Salem	3 violations	Yes	84	D
59	Greencastle	3 violations	Yes	12	C
60	Huntertown	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
61	Georgetown	3 violations	Yes	4	B+
62	Taylorsville	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
63	Charlestown	3 violations	Yes	2	B+
64	Elwood	3 violations	Yes	3	B+
65	Huntingburg	3 violations	Yes	14	B-
66	Batesville	3 violations	Yes	7	A
67	Crane	3 violations	Yes	9	B
68	Garrett	3 violations	Yes	3	B
69	Ferdinand	3 violations	Yes	4	B
70	Pendleton	3 violations	Yes	1	B+
71	Cicero	3 violations	Yes	11	C
72	Hebron	3 violations	Yes	7	B-
73	Paoli	3 violations	Yes	9	A-
74	Delphi	3 violations	Yes	1	C+
75	Oakland City	3 violations	Yes	6	B
76	Greentown	3 violations	Yes	2	B+
77	Cannelton	3 violations	Yes	1	B+
78	Walkerton	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
79	Montpelier	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
80	New Harmony	3 violations	Yes	2	A-
81	Milford	3 violations	Yes	5	D+
82	Morristown	3 violations	Yes	1	B
83	Cayuga	3 violations	Yes	0	A
84	Holland	3 violations	Yes	8	A-
85	Freelandville	3 violations	Yes	8	C+
86	Cromwell	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
87	Brook	3 violations	Yes	2	B+
88	Markle	3 violations	Yes	0	A
89	Wolcott	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
90	Shipshewana	3 violations	Yes	6	A-
91	Medora	3 violations	Yes	0	A
92	Lyons	3 violations	Yes	5	C+
93	Oaktown	3 violations	Yes	1	B
94	Etna Green	3 violations	Yes	8	B
95	Patoka	3 violations	Yes	2	B
96	Donaldson	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
97	Waveland	3 violations	Yes	2	B+
98	Merrillville	2 violations	Yes	15	B-
99	Evansville	2 violations	Yes	9	A-
100	Anderson	2 violations	Yes	2	B
101	Valparaiso	2 violations	Yes	3	C-
102	Plainfield	2 violations	Yes	9	B-
103	East Chicago	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
104	Lawrenceburg	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
105	Dubois	2 violations	Yes	2	A
106	Seymour	2 violations	Yes	3	B-
107	North Vernon	2 violations	Yes	106	D
108	Austin	2 violations	Yes	27	C+
109	Logansport	2 violations	Yes	11	C
110	Jasper	2 violations	Yes	7	A-
111	Morgantown	2 violations	Yes	9	C+
112	Corydon	2 violations	Yes	0	A
113	Mitchell	2 violations	Yes	31	B-
114	Milan	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
115	Speedway	2 violations	Yes	2	C
116	Columbia City	2 violations	Yes	5	D
117	Ingalls	2 violations	Yes	0	A
118	Nineveh	2 violations	Yes	0	B
119	Clinton	2 violations	Yes	1	B
120	Rensselaer	2 violations	Yes	2	B
121	Gas City	2 violations	Yes	2	B
122	Galena	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
123	Ligonier	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
124	Demotte	2 violations	Yes	3	B
125	West Terre Haute	2 violations	Yes	3	C+
126	Fort Branch	2 violations	Yes	1	B
127	Centerville	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
128	Albion	2 violations	Yes	6	C-
129	Rockport	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
130	New Carlisle	2 violations	Yes	30	C
131	Fremont	2 violations	Yes	4	B
132	Leo	2 violations	Yes	0	B+
133	Long Beach	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
134	Middletown	2 violations	Yes	3	A-
135	Jonesboro	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
136	North Liberty	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
137	Roanoke	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
138	Dale	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
139	Laurel	2 violations	Yes	9	D
140	Fairview Park	2 violations	Yes	0	A
141	Westport	2 violations	Yes	52	D+
142	Converse	2 violations	Yes	2	B
143	Russiaville	2 violations	Yes	5	B
144	Akron	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
145	Grabill	2 violations	Yes	2	B
146	Clay City	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
147	Walton	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
148	Mentone	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
149	Ashley (Rr Name Ashley-Hudson)	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
150	Francesville	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
151	La Fontaine	2 violations	Yes	2	B
152	Mecca	2 violations	Yes	6	B+
153	Campbellsburg	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
154	St. Mary-Of-The-Woods	2 violations	Yes	1	A
155	Chrisney	2 violations	Yes	8	A-
156	Dublin	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
157	Linden	2 violations	Yes	2	D
158	Boswell	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
159	Atlanta	2 violations	Yes	1	C+
160	Howe	2 violations	Yes	5	B
161	Elnora	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
162	Kingman	2 violations	Yes	39	C
163	Staunton	2 violations	Yes	28	B
164	Hillsboro	2 violations	Yes	4	B+
165	Lacrosse	2 violations	Yes	1	C+
166	Merrillville	1 violations	Yes	2	A
167	Jeffersonville	1 violations	Yes	4	B
168	Hammond	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
169	Lawrence	1 violations	Yes	4	B
170	Newburgh	1 violations	Yes	4	A
171	Richmond	1 violations	Yes	1	B
172	Martinsville	1 violations	Yes	12	F
173	Schererville	1 violations	Yes	1	C-
174	Madison	1 violations	Yes	4	C+
175	Brownsburg	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
176	Vincennes	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
177	Washington	1 violations	Yes	5	B
178	Bloomfield	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
179	Aurora	1 violations	Yes	8	C
180	Griffith	1 violations	Yes	2	B
181	Tell City	1 violations	Yes	5	B-
182	Brownstown	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
183	Brazil	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
184	Lowell	1 violations	Yes	25	B+
185	Patriot	1 violations	Yes	0	B-
186	Borden	1 violations	Yes	23	B+
187	Brookville	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
188	Linton	1 violations	Yes	3	A
189	Bluffton	1 violations	Yes	0	A
190	Rochester	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
191	Yorktown	1 violations	Yes	2	B-
192	North Manchester	1 violations	Yes	11	B+
193	Hartford City	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
194	Edinburg	1 violations	Yes	6	B+
195	Whiting	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
196	Shoals	1 violations	Yes	0	B
197	Elizabeth	1 violations	Yes	3	B
198	Berne	1 violations	Yes	3	A
199	New Washington	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
200	Pittsboro	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
201	Richland City	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
202	Middlebury	1 violations	Yes	8	B+
203	Knox	1 violations	Yes	2	A
204	Hardinsburg	1 violations	Yes	7	A-
205	Grandview (Grand View)	1 violations	Yes	3	B
206	Culver	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
207	Loogootee	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
208	Upland	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
209	West Baden Springs (Corporate	1 violations	Yes	3	A
210	Carlisle	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
211	Crothersville	1 violations	Yes	1	B
212	Butler	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
213	Shelburn	1 violations	Yes	2	B
214	Winamac	1 violations	Yes	0	A
215	Albany	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
216	Owensville	1 violations	Yes	1	A
217	Cambridge City	1 violations	Yes	5	B+
218	New Goshen	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
219	Wakarusa	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
220	Vevay	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
221	Williamsport	1 violations	Yes	3	C-
222	New Palestine	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
223	Roachdale	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
224	Frankton	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
225	North Judson	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
226	Kentland	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
227	Monon	1 violations	Yes	3	D+
228	Osgood	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
229	Warren	1 violations	Yes	4	B+
230	Argos	1 violations	Yes	1	B
231	Rossville	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
232	Eaton	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
233	Daleville	1 violations	Yes	8	B+
234	Monroeville	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
235	Geneva	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
236	Redkey	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
237	Farmland	1 violations	Yes	3	B-
238	Otterbein	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
239	Galveston	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
240	Troy	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
241	Oxford	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
242	Ladoga	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
243	Topeka	1 violations	Yes	0	A
244	Lynn	1 violations	Yes	0	B-
245	St. Paul	1 violations	Yes	4	D+
246	Wolcottville	1 violations	Yes	1	B
247	Silver Lake	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
248	Swayzee	1 violations	Yes	0	C-
249	Spiceland	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
250	Shirley	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
251	Milroy	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
252	English	1 violations	Yes	0	B
253	Van Buren	1 violations	Yes	8	B
254	Gosport	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
255	Monroe City	1 violations	Yes	7	B+
256	Waldron	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
257	Kirklin	1 violations	Yes	9	B
258	Lakeville	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
259	Hillsdale	1 violations	Yes	2	B
260	Windfall	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
261	Pennville	1 violations	Yes	1	A
262	Kewanna	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
263	Newport	1 violations	Yes	5	C+
264	Medaryville	1 violations	Yes	2	C
265	Hudson	1 violations	Yes	3	D+
266	Orland	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
267	Advance	1 violations	Yes	0	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Indiana

Is nitrate in Indiana tap water dangerous?

Yes — 267 cities in Indiana have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in Indiana water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

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