Don’t Let Your Westfield Home Fall Victim to the Hidden Dangers Lurking in Aging Water Pipes

As Westfield continues its rapid growth and development, many homeowners remain unaware of a silent threat flowing through their taps every day. More than half of the utility’s water mains are cast-iron and concrete lines that are 45 years or older, and challenges to utilities include aging infrastructure, emerging contaminants, and the increasingly severe effects of extreme weather. While your water may look crystal clear, decades-old pipes throughout the region are slowly deteriorating, potentially releasing harmful contaminants directly into your home’s water supply.

The Reality of Westfield’s Aging Water Infrastructure

Westfield’s water infrastructure tells a story that’s playing out across America. The average age of America’s 1.6 million miles of water and sewer pipes is about 45 years, and cast-iron pipes in at least 600 towns and counties are more than a century old. In the Indianapolis metropolitan area, which includes Westfield, utility Citizens Energy maintains about 4,330 miles of water transmission pipes over that nine-county region. More than half of the utility’s water mains are cast-iron and concrete lines that 45 years or older.

The financial scope of this challenge is staggering. Indiana’s projected cost for keeping its existing drinking water infrastructure running is about $6.5 billion, with some $4.5 billion of that needed for pipelines and water distribution projects. While municipal utilities work to address these issues, the reality is that the century-old infrastructure is struggling to keep up, and throughout the state, water pollution is plaguing the rivers and lakes. While Federal grant money is flowing into Indiana, it could take many years to see results.

Hidden Contaminants from Corroded Pipes

As pipes age and deteriorate, they become a breeding ground for contamination. When pipes corrode, their walls become compromised. Depending on the pipes’ material, harmful contaminants, like heavy metals and other minerals, dislodge from the walls. The water passing through the pipes then carry these small particles into your home and possibly into your drinking glass.

The most concerning contaminant is lead. Homes and buildings built before 1986 regularly used lead pipes, fixtures, and solder. Water, especially more acidic water, corrodes old pipes and fixtures like these over time and the lead dissolves into the water supply. Even more troubling, once dissolved, lead is invisible, odorless and tasteless, making it extremely hard to detect without proper testing.

Lead isn’t the only concern. The water coming to your home through aging pipes may leach dissolved lead, iron, copper, cadmium, and other toxic heavy metals into your drinking water. Iron contamination is particularly common in the region, with iron concentrations often exceed 3 parts per million, creating a metallic taste and orange staining.

Westfield’s Current Water Quality Challenges

Citizens Energy Group, which serves Westfield through three groundwater treatment plants that serve the service territory: River Road, Cherry Tree, and Greyhound Pass. These groundwater plants treat water pumped from underground water sources called aquifers. In addition, Citizens Westfield purchases a portion of its water supply from Citizens Water Indianapolis.

While the utility maintains compliance with federal standards, elevated lead levels are sometimes found in isolated samples of tap water taken from customer homes that have lead service lines or plumbing. Since each home has different plumbing pipes and materials, test results may differ for each home, but it is important to note that most homes with lead service lines or plumbing do not have elevated levels of lead in the tap water.

The utility has recognized the scope of the problem and Citizens received approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission in 2022 to begin implementing a lead service line replacement program for customers. This program enables Citizens to replace all customer-owned lead-containing service lines within its service territory, estimated to be between 55,000 and 75,000.

Why Whole House Filtration is Your Best Defense

While municipal improvements are underway, they’ll take years to complete. The most effective way to protect your family immediately is through comprehensive water filtration systems westfield homeowners can install today. Unlike point-of-use filters that only protect one faucet, whole house systems ensure every drop of water entering your home is properly filtered.

Premium whole house water filtration systems reduce more than 99% of lead and cysts, 98% of PFOA/PFOS and also reduces chlorine and chloramines. These systems work by passing water through several stages of filtration to capture particulates, chlorine, heavy metals like lead, and minerals that cause hard water. The filters take out 50-60% of water contaminants and improve taste as well.

Aqua Otter: Your Local Water Quality Partner

For Westfield homeowners seeking reliable water treatment solutions, Aqua Otter brings decades of expertise to the local market. We’ve served the local Hamilton County, IN community a long time and we plan on being here to continue to serve our clients for years to come. The company’s commitment to quality is evident in their approach: Unlike big box stores and online retailers, when you purchase a water treatment system from Aqua Otter, you can rest assured that it will actually fix the problems with your water and will be sized right for your family’s water usage. You’ll also have the same company professionally installing and maintaining your system for peak efficiency and maximum improvement of your water quality.

What sets Aqua Otter apart is their comprehensive understanding of local water challenges. The aging pipe infrastructure, some dating to the 1950s, introduces iron and potential lead contamination as water travels to your home. Their systems are specifically designed to address these regional concerns, with targeted solutions that address specific regional issues. Rather than generic filters that miss local contaminants, your drinking water systems target exactly what affects Indianapolis and Hamilton County residents.

The Technology Behind Effective Whole House Filtration

Modern whole house filtration systems employ multiple stages of treatment to address different types of contaminants. Your water filter system includes pre-filtration to protect the main unit, multi-stage filtration to remove specific contaminants, and post-filtration polishing for taste improvement. Each drinking water filter targets different contaminant sizes, from large sediment particles down to microscopic bacteria and viruses.

For homes with lead concerns, specialized systems use ion exchange technology. Water flows through high-quality resin beads. These beads are covered with sodium ions. As lead passes through, the resin beads act as a magnet, attracting the calcium and magnesium ions (hardness) as well as lead in exchange for the sodium ions.

Professional Installation and Ongoing Support

Proper installation is crucial for system effectiveness and longevity. While simple faucet-mounted units work for DIY installation, whole-house water filtration systems require professional installation to avoid leaks, pressure issues, and warranty voids. Plumbing connections, electrical work for UV systems, and proper sizing need technical knowledge. Professional installation protects your investment and provides warranty coverage on your drinking water systems.

Aqua Otter’s commitment extends beyond installation. With a commitment to excellence, we provide state-of-the-art, salt-free water conditioners and whole house filtration systems that are made in the USA and built to last. Backed by certifications like ISO-9001 and the Water Quality Association, our products offer unmatched reliability, and our team’s professionalism ensures every installation exceeds expectations.

Investment in Your Family’s Health and Home

Installing a whole house filtration system is more than just improving water taste—it’s protecting your family’s health and your home’s value. Your home value increases by $2,000-5,000 with permanent water filtration systems. Additionally, filtered water protects your appliances, plumbing, and fixtures from the damaging effects of hard water and contaminants.

The health implications of contaminated water, particularly for children, cannot be overstated. Even small amounts of lead in children’s drinking water causes behavioral and learning problems, inhibits normal growth, and lowers IQ. Drinking unfiltered water that passed through corroded pipes can be detrimental to your health. The effects are even more damaging for young children and pregnant women.

As Westfield continues to grow and modernize, don’t wait for municipal infrastructure improvements that may take years to reach your neighborhood. Take control of your family’s water quality today with a comprehensive whole house filtration system. Your health, your home, and your peace of mind are worth the investment in clean, safe water from every tap in your house.