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Public water system · IN5245021

Active

Highland Water Works

At a glance

Highland Water Works (PWSID IN5245021) is an active community water system in Lake County, Indiana. It reports serving 23,984 people through 9,640 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2017.

Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.

Population served

23,984

Service connections

9,640

Primary source

SWP

Purchased surface water

System type

CWS

Community water system

System record

PWSIDIN5245021
System typeCommunity water system
Activity statusActive
Population served23,984
Service connections9,640
Primary water sourcePurchased surface water
Owner typeLocal government
Primacy agencyIN state drinking water program
City servedHighland (Highlands)
StateIndiana
ZIP—
CountyLake County

How does Highland Water Works compare with other water systems in Lake County?

By EPA's size categories, Highland Water Works is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Lake County has 110 active public water systems. Its population served is about 5 times the county average of 4,845 people per system, and accounts for 4.5% 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 Highland Water Works is about 3.6 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. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 82 Indiana systems (2.1%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.

Who owns and regulates Highland Water Works?

EPA lists Highland 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 Highland Water Works have drinking water violations?

EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2017. The violations listed here began between January 1993 and October 2017. By type: 4 contaminant level above the legal limit, 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (4 of them). EPA lists 7 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.

BeganViolationContaminant or ruleHealth-basedStatus
2017-10-01Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000NoResolved
2013-07-01Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100YesResolved
2009-08-01Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100YesResolved
2009-07-01Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100YesResolved
2004-12-15Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000NoResolved
2001-12-01Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100YesResolved
1993-01-01Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000NoResolved

All 7 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.

Highland Water Works: frequently asked questions

Who runs Highland Water Works?

Highland Water Works (PWSID IN5245021) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IN state drinking water program.

How many people does Highland Water Works serve?

Highland Water Works reports serving 23,984 people through 9,640 service connections in Lake County, Indiana.

Where does Highland Water Works get its water?

EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.

Does Highland Water Works have any drinking water violations?

EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2017. 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 Highland 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. EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2017. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IN state drinking water program.

Where can I find Highland Water Works' water quality report?

As a community water system, Highland 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 systemCountyPopulation servedTypeSource
Indiana American Water - NorthwestLake210,510CommunitySurface water
Hammond Water Works DepartmentLake78,384CommunitySurface water
Schererville Water DepartmentLake30,000CommunityPurchased surface water
Crown Point Water WorksLake30,000CommunityPurchased surface water
East Chicago Water WorksLake26,370CommunitySurface water
St. John Municipal Water UtilityLake25,700CommunityGroundwater

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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, “Highland Water Works, PWSID IN5245021, Indiana”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/indiana/highland-water-works-in5245021 (data as of October 1, 2026).