Allen County, Indiana — public water systems

How does Allen County compare with other Indiana counties?

Allen County has the 10th-most active public water systems among the 109 counties listed for active Indiana systems in EPA records; among the 92 with 3 or more systems, the median has 26. Its systems report 323,592 people served in total, the 3rd-largest county figure in the state and 5.6% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 3,719 people, about 156% above the Indiana average of 1,456. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Allen County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Allen County's active systems draw on groundwater (82, 94%), purchased surface water (4, 4.6%) and surface water (1, 1.1%). Overall, 94% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 5.7% on surface water, compared with 97% and 2.8% across Indiana. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Fort Wayne - 3 Rivers Filtration Plant, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Allen County?

Allen County's active systems break down as 12 community systems (14%), 15 non-transient non-community systems (17%) and 60 transient non-community systems (69%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (85%), local government (14%) and public/private partnership (1.1%).