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City water profile

East Chicago water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for East Chicago, Indiana.

Median indexed hardness

280PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 280–280 PPM

State comparison
33 PPM below
State hardness rank
#294 of 386
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

East Chicago has 1 published ZIP profile across Lake County. The indexed median is 280 PPM, compared with 313 PPM across Indiana.

Among the 386 Indianacities with an indexed median, East Chicago ranks #294from highest to lowest. Across all 472 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 132to 371 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard1 ZIP

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
4.3 miles
Profiles with evidence
1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 1Low: 0

Observation window: Apr 26, 2016 to May 13, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in East Chicago

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

46312

Very Hard

280 PPM

Nearest site
4.3 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

East Chicago Water Works

PWSID IN5245012

Surface water
System population served
26,370
Last reported
Jun 30, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
Revised Total Coliform RuleIN5245012Sep 1, 2025Resolved
TTHMIN5245012Oct 1, 2024Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)IN5245012Oct 1, 2024Resolved
Revised Total Coliform RuleIN5245012Mar 1, 2024Resolved
Lead and Copper RuleIN5245012Jan 1, 2024Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)IN5245012Jan 1, 2023Resolved
TTHMIN5245012Jan 1, 2023Resolved
Consumer Confidence RuleIN5245012Jul 1, 2022Resolved
Revised Total Coliform RuleIN5245012May 1, 2021Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in East Chicago

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 280 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.