What was found in Peru's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 1300 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PERU WATER DEPARTMENT · 11,417 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 8300 µg/L — ROADS END MOBILE HOME PARK · 60 people · 2016 | 6/12 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1621 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PERU WATER DEPARTMENT · 11,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7998 µg/L — ROADS END MOBILE HOME PARK · 60 people · 2018 | 3/12 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 184 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: PERU WATER DEPARTMENT · 11,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2090 µg/L — HILLTOP RIDGE APARTMENTS PHASE TWO · 29 people · 2018 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 973.5 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PERU WATER DEPARTMENT · 11,417 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1192.5 µg/L — WOODLAND HILLS MOBILE HOME PARK #2 · 168 people · 2019 | 10/12 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 116.6 µg/L 5.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: PERU WATER DEPARTMENT · 11,417 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 448.2 µg/L — PERU UTILITIES/GRISSOM · 2,500 people · 2018 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 18.8 µg/L 125% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: PERU WATER DEPARTMENT · 11,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 79.45 µg/L — HILLTOP RIDGE APARTMENTS PHASE TWO · 29 people · 2018 | 9/12 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 35.6 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: PERU WATER DEPARTMENT · 11,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 39 µg/L — PERU UTILITIES/GRISSOM · 2,500 people · 2019 | 3/12 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 16.33 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PERU WATER DEPARTMENT · 11,417 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 35.165 µg/L — PERU UTILITIES/GRISSOM · 2,500 people · 2019 | 3/12 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 12.32 µg/L 123% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Highest in the city: MAPLE LAWN VILLAGE · 250 people · 2019 | 8/12 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 7 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: WOODLAND HILLS MOBILE HOME PARK #1 · 100 people · 2017 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 2.76 pCi/L 18% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: PERU WATER DEPARTMENT · 11,417 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 5.28 pCi/L — HILLTOP RIDGE APARTMENTS PHASE TWO · 29 people · 2014 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 3.61 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: HILLTOP RIDGE APARTMENTS · 52 people · 2014 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 2.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MAPLE LAWN VILLAGE · 250 people · 2018 | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.2 µg/L 4.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: HILLTOP RIDGE APARTMENTS PHASE TWO · 29 people · 2017 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 1 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Highest in the city: WELLS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. · 98 people · 2018 | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 0.8000 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MAPLE LAWN VILLAGE · 250 people · 2018 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Endrin | 0.1600 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: WILLOW SPRINGS MHP · 25 people · 2016 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0070 mg/L 47% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PERU WATER DEPARTMENT · 11,417 people · 2023 | 12/12 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Peru
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PERU WATER DEPARTMENT | 11,417 |
| PERU UTILITIES/GRISSOM | 2,500 |
| MAPLE LAWN VILLAGE | 250 |
| WOODLAND HILLS MOBILE HOME PARK #2 | 168 |
| CEDAR CREEK MOBILE HOME PARK | 150 |
| WOODLAND HILLS MOBILE HOME PARK #1 | 100 |
| WELLS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. | 98 |
| KINGS COURT MOBILE HOME PARK | 70 |
| ROADS END MOBILE HOME PARK | 60 |
| HILLTOP RIDGE APARTMENTS | 52 |
| HILLTOP RIDGE APARTMENTS PHASE TWO | 29 |
| WILLOW SPRINGS MHP | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Peru tap water
Is Peru tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 18 contaminants in the water serving Peru. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Peru?
12 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Peru, Indiana to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Peru's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Peru include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.