Community Drinking Water Information - Madison County

Updated: 10/22/2025

Introduction

Throughout 2025, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) became aware of media reports and social media posts describing water discoloration and alleged bacterial contamination in customer drinking water.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Drinking Water Branch carries out the requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), which is designed to ensure that Public Water Supplies (PWS) provide safe and reliable drinking water to Hoosier homes and businesses.

This is accomplished by protecting source water from contamination, monitoring treatment systems, and managing the distribution system through inspections and water sampling, ensuring that the water produced and delivered to customers is safe to drink. The Drinking Water Branch consists of the following sections: Compliance, Inspection, Groundwater, Capacity Development & Operator Certification, and Permits.

This page provides background, current water quality information, and guidance for residents experiencing concerns.

Madison County, Indiana

There are currently 13 community public water systems in Madison County. All 13 water systems routinely collect drinking water samples for regulated contaminants, as mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). IDEM implements these requirements through IC 13-18-16 and 327 IAC 8.

All community water systems in Madison County are currently meeting the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. IDEM can confirm that the water quality results are meeting requirements and are safe to drink. Drinking water quality results for Madison County can be viewed by visiting IDEM’s Drinking Water Viewer website. Below is a list of the community water systems in Madison County.

Primary Water Source Type: GW = Groundwater; SWP = Surface Water purchased; GU = Groundwater under the direct influence of Surface Water

IDEM has received customer complaints about discolored water in Anderson and Lapel. IDEM staff investigated these complaints and determined that the temporary discolored water event was due to water systems performing routine maintenance flushing in their distribution system. IDEM also collected bacteriological samples in response to some of these complaints and confirmed that the water quality is meeting regulations.

If you experience discoloration in your drinking water, we strongly encourage you to work directly with your water utility. We also encourage you to review our Discolored Drinking Water Event Fact Sheet [PDF] and IDEM’s website for additional information about discolored water. If you need additional assistance from IDEM, please contact IDEM’s customer complaint line.

Alexandria, Indiana History

Public Water Supply Systems are required to conduct regular Total Coliform samples in the distribution system, as mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). IDEM implements these requirements through IC 13-18-16 and 327 IAC 8.

The City of Alexandria (IN5248001) is required to collect at least 6 Total Coliform samples per month, based on its population, and in accordance with an approved Site Sampling Plan (SSP). These samples:

• Must be collected from approved sites within the distribution system.
• Are analyzed by certified laboratories recognized by the Indiana Department of Health.
• Are submitted electronically to IDEM for review and processing.

Any sample found to be Total Coliform positive must be further analyzed for E. coli bacteria.

Over the past two years, all official compliance samples from Alexandria's public water system have been absent of bacteria, meaning no total coliform or E. coli were detected.

E. Coli in Drinking Water

Total coliforms are a group of related bacteria that are (with few exceptions) not harmful to humans. A variety of bacteria, parasites, and viruses, known as pathogens, can potentially cause health problems if humans ingest them.

The U.S. EPA uses total coliforms as indicators of water system integrity and treatment effectiveness.

The Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) focuses on E. coli as the primary indicator of fecal contamination in drinking water. E. coli is a specific type of coliform bacteria found almost exclusively in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. The presence is a strong indicator of fecal contamination and the potential presence of disease-causing pathogens.

What IDEM has Done

In early July, IDEM drinking water staff became aware of social media posts detailing individual concerns about water quality from the Alexandria Water Department.

The resident informed the IDEM inspector that they had previously collected a water sample personally and sent it to a state-certified lab (HML in Muncie, IN).

The relationship between a customer and a laboratory is strictly limited to the two parties involved. When a resident wants to know what is going on with their water, property soil, pipes, paint, shingles, or any other component within their home, they have the right to seek laboratory services to address that need. However, this does not constitute a suitable submission for determining water system compliance. These samples are treated as "for information purposes only."

The water samples collected by the resident returned "unsatisfactory" results for E. coli. However, it was determined and noted in the results that the sample was collected using a method not customarily used for SDWA compliance. Outside factors and personal conditions within a residence can lead to sample contamination, resulting in an "unsatisfactory" result. Bacterial sampling techniques are highly specific and crucial for meeting quality control requirements.

A separate sample was collected from the residence by the utility and sent to the same state-certified lab (HML) using industry-standard collection methods (Colilert method). It was found to be satisfactory, with no bacteria detected.

Additionally, residents raised questions about low chlorine levels at customer taps. Chlorine residual is critical to preventing bacterial growth. However, chlorine levels may vary at individual taps due to factors such as low water usage, premises' plumbing conditions, or water treatment equipment inside the home. The utility is responsible for maintaining chlorine levels in the public distribution system, not within private residences.

IDEM, the Madison County Health Department, and the Indiana Department of Health’s Epidemiology Department have also met to discuss ongoing concerns and coordinate any action items. To date, there have been two (2) reportable and investigated E. coli infection cases in Madison County in 2025. The cases, which occurred in mid-March and early May, were determined not to have originated from a municipal water supply system.

Note: While humans and animals have a wide variety of E. coli bacteria within their intestines, most are harmless and do not cause disease. Only certain specific E. coli strains that cause enteric infections are reported to government health authorities. These strains are called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and can cause illness, and symptoms ranging from stomach cramps to diarrhea and vomiting.

It is also commonly known that certain strains of E. coli are responsible for the majority of UTI infections. While these infections can be serious, they are not typically associated with STEC, are not linked to drinking potentially contaminated water, and are associated with other factors.

Current Water Quality Assessment

IDEM's Drinking Water Branch comprises more than 70 dedicated staff members, including 18 inspectors stationed throughout the state. Their mission is to ensure drinking water systems comply with standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. When violations occur, the branch may pursue enforcement actions to safeguard Hoosiers' water quality.

In response to the Alexandria concerns, IDEM has met with representatives from the City of Alexandria's water department, reviewed Monthly Reporting Orders, sampling documentation, and procedures.

At this time, IDEM has identified no discrepancies or violations regarding sampling and reporting. All compliance sampling and reporting is available for review by the public at the Drinking Water Viewer.

Additional updates will be posted to this page as they become available.

Citizen inquiries should be directed to Alexandria.IN.water.questions@idem.in.gov.

Additional Resources

• Alexandria Public Meeting Presentation - August 27, 2025 [PPTX]
• Alexandria Monthly Report of Operations for June 2025
• Alexandria's 2024 Drinking Water Quality Report
• IDEM - Drinking Water Branch
• "Are You a Public Water System?" Fact Sheet [PDF]
• Revised Total Coliform Rule for Drinking Water
• Consumer Confidence Reports Fact Sheet [PDF]
• Discolored Drinking Water Event Fact Sheet [PDF]
• Boil Water Advisory and Discolored Water Events