Public water system · IN5245012
ActiveEast Chicago Water Works
At a glance
East Chicago Water Works (PWSID IN5245012) is an active community water system in Lake County, Indiana. It reports serving 26,370 people through 7,000 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
26,370
Service connections
7,000
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does East Chicago Water Works compare with other water systems in Lake County?
By EPA's size categories, East Chicago Water Works is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Lake County has 110 active public water systems, and East Chicago Water Works is the 5th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 5.4 times the county average of 4,845 people per system, and accounts for 4.9% of the 532,973 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Indiana, the 3,969 active systems average 1,456 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so East Chicago Water Works is about 3.9 times that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
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. Indiana has 770 active community water systems, 19% of the state's 3,969 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 30 Indiana systems (0.8%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates East Chicago Water Works?
EPA lists East Chicago Water Works as owned by a local government. The IN state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 24 of the 110 active systems in Lake County (22%) are also owned by a local government.
Does East Chicago Water Works have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025. The violations listed here began between April 2018 and September 2025. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 3 reporting and 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Revised Total Coliform Rule (4 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-01 | ReportingReport Sample Result/Fail Monitor (RTCR) · code 4B | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-03-01 | ReportingReport Sample Result/Fail Monitor (RTCR) · code 4B | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2021-05-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherSample Siting Plan Errors (RTCR) · code 5A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-05-01 | ReportingReport Sample Result/Fail Monitor (RTCR) · code 4B | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
East Chicago Water Works: frequently asked questions
Who runs East Chicago Water Works?
East Chicago Water Works (PWSID IN5245012) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IN state drinking water program.
How many people does East Chicago Water Works serve?
East Chicago Water Works reports serving 26,370 people through 7,000 service connections in Lake County, Indiana.
Where does East Chicago Water Works get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does East Chicago Water Works have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is East Chicago Water Works' water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IN state drinking water program.
Where can I find East Chicago Water Works' water quality report?
As a community water system, East Chicago Water Works must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Lake County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana American Water - Northwest | Lake | 210,510 | Community | Surface water |
| Hammond Water Works Department | Lake | 78,384 | Community | Surface water |
| Schererville Water Department | Lake | 30,000 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Crown Point Water Works | Lake | 30,000 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| St. John Municipal Water Utility | Lake | 25,700 | Community | Groundwater |
| Highland Water Works | Lake | 23,984 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “East Chicago Water Works, PWSID IN5245012, Indiana”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/indiana/east-chicago-water-works-in5245012 (data as of October 1, 2026).