What the Chesterton records show
- Water quality and PFAS
- 2 candidate water systems shown.Source date: Violations as of Q1 2026
- Air quality and emissions
- 3 monitoring records shown. Observation year: 2025.Source date: AQS data as of 2026
- Land and cleanup records
- No Superfund records returned in this report; No brownfield records returned in this report.
- Infrastructure and incidents
- 2 pipeline incident records shown; 2 RMP facility records shown (earlier stored inventory, current location coverage unverified).Source date: PHMSA data as of Q1 2026
Water quality in Chesterton
Check your water bill for your utility name and confirm the reporting year. See EPA’s guide to finding your annual water quality report.
Drinking Water Compliance
Drinking Water Compliance
Public water-system records for Chesterton, IN from EPA SDWIS.
Westville Water Department
Active monitoring or reporting issue detected in EPA SDWIS.
Reviewed: active/open records as of Q1 2026
City-area ZIP code · Serves 1,800 people
Valparaiso Department of Water Works
No active drinking-water issues detected in EPA SDWIS.
Reviewed: active/open records as of Q1 2026
City-area ZIP code · Serves 36,000 people
Data from EPA SDWIS
Reviewed: source records as of Q1 2026
EPA UCMR5 — No PFAS detection records shown for these water systems
Open data source: EPA UCMR5DoD PFAS — No investigation records shown for this report
Open data source: DoD PFASImpaired Water Bodies
1
Impaired Water Bodies
EPA ATTAINS records identify assessed water bodies that do not meet water-quality standards for designated uses.
Coffee Creek-East Arm Little Calumet River
Reported: Nov 2026
Health-relevant causes: Pathogens, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (pcbs)
Affected uses: Ecological, Fishconsumption, Recreation
Data from EPA ATTAINS
Discharge Permits (NPDES)
2
Discharge Permits (NPDES)
NPDES permits regulate pollutant discharges into U.S. waterways. Facilities must report compliance quarterly.
Violation records
Last inspected: Dec 2025
Data from EPA ECHO
To investigate water contamination, check the sampling locations, dates and results below. For tap water records, see Drinking water quality above.
Reviewed: source records as of 2026
Air quality and emissions in Chesterton
Review historical EPA air pollution records, including monitoring and facility emissions where available. For current conditions, check local air quality on AirNow.
EPA AirToxScreen — Estimated Cancer Risk
EPA AirToxScreen — Estimated Cancer Risk
Porter County
Assessment year: 2020
According to EPA, a cancer risk of 30-in-1-million means that for every 1 million people continuously exposed to these air toxics over a 70-year lifetime, an estimated 30 may develop cancer from that exposure. This is in addition to cancer risk from all other causes.
Top modeled source groups
Data from EPA AirToxScreen
Nonattainment Status
1
Nonattainment Status
EPA designations apply to a specific pollutant and federal air quality standard (NAAQS). EPA can issue a clean-data determination while a formal designation remains in effect.
Chicago: Ozone
NonattainmentSerious8-Hour Ozone (2015 Standard)
Health effects (EPA): Respiratory inflammation, aggravation of asthma, reduced lung function (EPA)
Maintenance areas
Previously nonattainment; currently meeting the standard and monitored under an EPA maintenance plan.
Chicago-Naperville
Ozone · 8-Hour Ozone (2008 Standard)
Classification: Serious
Original designation: Jul 2012
Current design value: 0.079 ppm (2023-2025)
1997 Primary Annual PM2.5 Designations
Chicago-Gary-Lake County
EPA revoked the 1997 primary annual PM2.5 standard in this redesignated area.
Original designation: Apr 2005
Open data source: EPA final primary annual revocation ruleOpen data source: EPA designation statusData from EPA Green Book
Air Quality Monitoring (AQS)
Air Quality Monitoring (AQS)
EPA annual monitor summaries describe past measurements. For current air quality, see AirNow.
Arcelormittal-Burns Harbor Site 1 — Portage, Indiana
Annual mean: 6.1 Parts per billion
EPA primary exceedance count: 3 (SO2 1-hour 2010)
Observation year: 2025
East Chicago- Franklin School/ Washington School (Ben. Franklin)
Annual mean: 17.4 Micrograms/cubic meter (25 C)
Observation year: 2025
Annual mean: 8.5 Micrograms/cubic meter (LC)
Observation year: 2025
Data from EPA AQS
Air Quality Violations or Noncompliance
1
Air Quality Violations or Noncompliance
Facilities regulated under the Clean Air Act. CAA HPV flags indicate serious noncompliance such as exceeding emission limits.
Air Violations
Last inspected: Dec 2025
Data from EPA ECHO
Reported Air Emissions (TRI)
6
Reported Air Emissions (TRI)
TRI releases are self-reported annual totals (calendar year 2024). Hover fugitive or stack for definitions.
Pvs Technologies Inc.
Reported: 2024
Urschel Laboratories Inc
Reported: 2024
Worthington Steel Co
Reported: 2024
Land cleanup and hazardous waste records in Chesterton
Reviewed: source query run Nov 2026
Reviewed: source query run Nov 2026
Hazardous Waste — RCRA Handlers
3
Hazardous Waste — RCRA Handlers
Facilities with hazardous-waste handler records under RCRA in the reviewed 5-mile city-center search area. Active handler status is separate from air, water, or other ECHO compliance violations, which are shown in their own sections.
Active RCRA handler records in the reviewed city search area
Underground Storage Tanks
1
Underground Storage Tanks
Release reports
Reported: Dec 2021
Data from EPA UST Finder
Reviewed: reporting year 2024
MSHA Mine and Extraction Sites
MSHA Mine and Extraction Sites
No MSHA mine or extraction site records shown for this report.
County radon potential
1
County radon potential
Porter County, IN
EPA Radon Zone Map (June 2024 release)
Porter County is EPA Radon Zone 2 (moderate potential). EPA defines Zone 2 counties as having predicted average indoor screening levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.
Radon levels can vary from home to home, so EPA recommends testing the property to know its indoor level.
FEMA flood zones and infrastructure in Chesterton
FEMA Flood Zones
1
FEMA Flood Zones
FEMA flood zones describe mapped flood hazards. Look up a specific address with FEMA.
Special Flood Hazard Area — 1% annual chance of flooding (100-year floodplain) with base flood elevation.
EPA Risk Management Program Records
EPA Risk Management Program Records
Results use an earlier stored RMP inventory. Current EPA ECHO location coverage is unverified.
EPA ECHO lists facilities linked to the Risk Management Program. Results include facilities with locations that can be matched. Records may be historical. Current operations, chemical inventories, and recent accident history are unverified.
Pipeline Incidents
2
Pipeline Incidents
PHMSA tracks incidents involving natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. Incidents include leaks, ruptures, and explosions.
Recent Incidents (last 5 years)
NORTHERN INDIANA PUBLIC SERVICE CO
Incident date: Jul 19, 2022
- Type
- Gas Distribution
- Cause
- INCORRECT OPERATION
- Released
- NATURAL GAS
NORTHERN INDIANA PUBLIC SERVICE CO
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
- Type
- Gas Distribution
- Cause
- EXCAVATION DAMAGE
- Released
- NATURAL GAS
Property damage: $14,561
Data from PHMSA
Community Health Indicators
Community Health Indicators
Health outcomes from County Health Rankings. Values shown alongside state and national averages.
Porter County, IndianaPop. 174,791
County Health Rankings edition: 2024
Premature Death
- County
- 7,154
- State
- 9,317
- National
- 7,972
Poor or Fair Health
- County
- 15.1%
- State
- 16.1%
- National
- 14.2%
Poor Physical Health Days
- County
- 3.5
- State
- 3.5
- National
- 3.3
Poor Mental Health Days
- County
- 5.0
- State
- 5.2
- National
- 4.8
Adult Smoking
- County
- 16.2%
- State
- 18.0%
- National
- 15.0%
Adult Obesity
- County
- 37.8%
- State
- 36.7%
- National
- 34.0%
Air Pollution - Particulate Matter
- County
- 8.3
- State
- 8.8
- National
- 7.3
Drinking water violation indicator
- County
- No
- State
- N/A
- National
- N/A
Diabetes Prevalence
- County
- 9.8%
- State
- 10.8%
- National
- 9.6%
Life Expectancy
- County
- 77.5
- State
- 75.6
- National
- 77.6
| Indicator | County | State | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premature Death | 7,154 | 9,317 | 7,972 |
| Poor or Fair Health | 15.1% | 16.1% | 14.2% |
| Poor Physical Health Days | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.3 |
| Poor Mental Health Days | 5.0 | 5.2 | 4.8 |
| Adult Smoking | 16.2% | 18.0% | 15.0% |
| Adult Obesity | 37.8% | 36.7% | 34.0% |
| Air Pollution - Particulate Matter | 8.3 | 8.8 | 7.3 |
| Drinking water violation indicator | No | N/A | N/A |
| Diabetes Prevalence | 9.8% | 10.8% | 9.6% |
| Life Expectancy | 77.5 | 75.6 | 77.6 |
Environmental questions about Chesterton, Indiana
Has PFAS been found in the water in Chesterton, Indiana?
This report does not have PFAS sample results for the candidate water systems in Chesterton.
Check with the utility that serves your address for its testing results.
What do EPA records say about tap water in Chesterton, Indiana?
EPA drinking water records on this page list 11 violations for Westville Water Department.
The EPA drinking water records available here list no violations for Valparaiso Department of Water Works.
Check your water bill to identify the utility serving your address. Ask that utility about current drinking water advisories.
What do annual air monitors show near Chesterton, Indiana?
Nearby EPA monitoring stations provide annual air quality measurements for Chesterton.
The monitoring station at ArcelorMittal-Burns Harbor Site 1, Portage, Indiana recorded an annual average of 6.1 Parts per billion for sulfur dioxide in 2025.
The monitoring station at East Chicago- Franklin School/ Washington School (Ben. Franklin) recorded an annual average of 17.4 Micrograms/cubic meter (25 C) for particles (PM10) in 2025.
The monitoring station at East Chicago- Franklin School/ Washington School (Ben. Franklin) recorded an annual average of 8.5 Micrograms/cubic meter (LC) for fine particles (PM2.5) in 2025.
Download 2025 EPA annual monitor dataCurrent air quality on AirNow
Is there radon in Chesterton, Indiana?
The radon data for Chesterton covers Porter County. EPA places this area in Zone 2, with a predicted average indoor radon screening level of 2 to 4 picocuries per liter.
Are there Superfund or brownfield sites near Chesterton, Indiana?
No Superfund or brownfield sites were returned for this city report.
What is the life expectancy in Chesterton, Indiana?
The county data for Chesterton reports a life expectancy of 77.5 years in Porter County, Indiana.
The figure is from the 2024 edition of County Health Rankings, a University of Wisconsin program that publishes county health statistics.
What does the data say about premature deaths in Chesterton, Indiana?
The county data for Chesterton reports 7,154 years of life lost to deaths before age 75 per 100,000 residents in Porter County, Indiana. This measure adds up the years lost to early deaths and adjusts for differences in population age.
The figure is from the 2024 edition of County Health Rankings, a University of Wisconsin program that publishes county health statistics.
Is there air pollution in Chesterton, Indiana?
The county data for Chesterton lists fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) at 8.3 micrograms per cubic meter in Porter County, Indiana.
The figure is from the 2024 edition of County Health Rankings, a University of Wisconsin program that publishes county health statistics.
What environmental incidents are recorded near Chesterton, Indiana?
Federal pipeline records list an incident involving Northern Indiana Public Service Co near Chesterton on Jul 19, 2022. The reported release was natural gas.
Federal pipeline records list an incident involving Northern Indiana Public Service Co near Chesterton on Aug 13, 2024. The reported release was natural gas.