Porter County, Indiana — public water systems

How does Porter County compare with other Indiana counties?

Porter County has the 12th-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 60,622 people served in total, the 22nd-largest county figure in the state and 1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 748 people, about half of 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 Porter County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Porter County's active systems draw on groundwater (79, 98%), purchased groundwater (1, 1.2%) and purchased surface water (1, 1.2%). Overall, 99% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 1.2% 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, Valparaiso Department of Water Works, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Porter County?

Porter County's active systems break down as 8 community systems (9.9%), 16 non-transient non-community systems (20%) and 57 transient non-community systems (70%). 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 (80%), local government (12%) and federal government (7.4%).