Carmel
Carmel, IN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
carmel water department
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID IN5229004
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Carmel, IN is a small but growing city, with a population near 88,713 and the 5th-largest community in Indiana. Like much of Indiana, Carmel draws its water primarily from Ohio River, Wabash River, and glacial aquifers.
Carmel's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across Indiana. Generally adequate supply with localized concerns around industrial use and infrastructure age.
Carmel sits in a state that reuses roughly 4% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences no meaningful drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Indiana state water profile and the related issues below.
Hamilton County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~88,713 (5th-largest in Indiana)
- Primary sources: Ohio River, Wabash River, and glacial aquifers
- Drought: no meaningful conditions
- State reuse rate: ~4% of wastewater
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Carmel?
Carmel's largest water system, CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT, serves about 99,927 people. EPA records show 2 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 2.9 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Carmel get its water?
CARMEL WATER DEPARTMENT draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Indiana's supply from Ohio River, Wabash River, glacial aquifers.
Related water issues
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
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