What 'Detected', 'Median', and 'Range' Mean in Water Sampling Records
The public water system record for Indiana American Water - Northwest serving Gary and Merrillville reports no specific microplastics measurements. When government data shows a constituent as 'detected', it means instruments measured its presence in a sample, but this is not proof of any problem. The 'median' indicates the middle value of many measurements, while 'range' shows the lowest to highest values across samples. However, for microplastics, no federal or state sampling data exist for this system or its source water, so these statistics are unavailable.
The Role of Plumbing Material and Age in Microplastic Presence
Microplastics in household water may originate not only from the source but also from the home’s plumbing materials and pipe age. Plastic pipes or deteriorated seals can contribute particles. Therefore, even if municipal surface water has low or unknown microplastic levels, household plumbing conditions might influence what ends up in your tap water. Testing your specific home's water is necessary to assess this factor.
Interpreting Water Quality Measurements Against Federal Standards
The Indiana American Water system has zero health-based EPA violations recorded, reassuring that regulated contaminants meet safety standards. Microplastics are not yet federally regulated or monitored formally, so their presence is not assessed against legal thresholds. This means no safety standard currently guides whether a given microplastic concentration poses health risks in Lake County water. Understanding this distinction is essential when evaluating treatment options.
Significance of Sample Size and Well Numbers Behind the Data
The system's water quality figures are based on thousands of connections serving over 210,000 people, reflecting extensive sampling and treatment measures for regulated contaminants. Yet, as microplastics data do not exist for this public water source, no sampling size or well count supports any conclusions about microplastics in this system. Personal water tests are required to gain reliable information about your household's exposure.
How the Autotrol Microplastics Filter Addresses This Concern
The Autotrol Microplastics Filter is designed to reduce particles including microplastics in residential water. It uses mechanical filtration technology to capture microscopic plastic debris that standard municipal treatment may not fully remove. This system ships ready to configure for household use, offering a targeted approach when testing indicates microplastic presence. While municipal water in Gary and Merrillville is treated for many contaminants, adding this filter can enhance water clarity and peace of mind regarding microplastic reduction.
The Critical Test to Understand Your Home’s Microplastic Levels
Since regional public water data do not measure microplastics, the only way to confirm their presence in your household water is to order a specialized microplastic water analysis from a certified laboratory. Such a test analyzes your tap water directly for plastic particle concentration and size distribution. A result showing low or undetectable microplastic levels could confirm no additional treatment is needed, while notable findings could justify use of a dedicated filter like the Autotrol Microplastics Filter to improve water quality in your home.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2024-12-31. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA SDWIS record for INDIANA AMERICAN WATER - NORTHWEST (IN5245015), surface water supply, serving 210510 people: 0 health-based violations of 0 total; lead 90th percentile 0.003 mg/L
- ✓ 90-Day Money-BackNo restocking fees — return within 90 days.
- ✓ Manufacturer WarrantyGenuine Fleck · Pentair · VIQUA equipment.
- ✓ Free Expert SizingTalk to a specialist and buy the right system the first time.