St. Joseph County, Indiana — public water systems

How does St. Joseph County compare with other Indiana counties?

St. Joseph County has the 3rd-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 218,558 people served in total, the 5th-largest county figure in the state and 3.8% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 989 people, about 32% below 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 St. Joseph County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, St. Joseph County's active systems draw on groundwater (220, 100%) and purchased groundwater (1, 0.5%). Overall, all rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and none 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, South Bend Water Works, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in St. Joseph County?

St. Joseph County's active systems break down as 16 community systems (7.2%), 36 non-transient non-community systems (16%) and 169 transient non-community systems (76%). 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 (90%), local government (9.5%) and federal government (0.5%).