PlainEnviro

Whitley, IN

Moderate Risk (42/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Whitley in Indiana · Population: 34,388

TRI sites such as Steel Dynamics Inc Structural & Rail Div; C & R Plating Corp; Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire USA LLC - Plant #202; SDWIS systems such as COLUMBIA CITY WATER DEPARTMENT; SOUTH WHITLEY MUNICIPAL WATER; CHURUBUSCO WATER DEPARTMENT; NPL sites such as Wayne Waste Oil anchor Whitley, IN's EPA extract. Derived burden score 42/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Whitley include CHURUBUSCO WATER DEPARTMENT, while Steel Dynamics Inc Structural & Rail Div leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 35 / peak 70 in 2024.

Burden score 42/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Whitley -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Whitley, IN: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

-38.4%

12 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

-38.4%

72.7 thousand lb → 44.8 thousand lb, every facility that filed

  • Whitley, IN's total reported releases fell from 72.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 44.8 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Whitley, IN's water releases rose from 421 lb in 2022 to 1.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Whitley, IN's off-site transfers fell from 47.0 thousand lb in 2022 to 19.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Whitley, IN's air releases fell from 25.3 thousand lb in 2022 to 24.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
34,388
TRI Facilities
13
Water Systems
3
Superfund Sites
1
Total Releases
488.8K lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 278 (76%) 88 0 70
2023 195 (54%) 161 4 223
2022 221 (61%) 138 1 109
2021 203 (56%) 158 0 96
2020 160 (48%) 176 0 79
2024 Good Air Quality: 76% of days
Median AQI: 35

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Indiana, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (3)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
COLUMBIA CITY WATER DEPARTMENT 9,892 0
SOUTH WHITLEY MUNICIPAL WATER 1,818 0
CHURUBUSCO WATER DEPARTMENT 1,803 1

TRI Facilities (13)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Steel Dynamics Inc Structural & Rail Div 314.6K lbs
2 C & R Plating Corp 91.6K lbs
3 Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire USA LLC - Plant #202 52.2K lbs
4 Chromasource Inc 28.5K lbs
5 Columbia City Mill Services 1.7K lbs
6 Advanced Materials Development LLC 95 lbs
7 Undersea Sensor Systems Inc 91 lbs
8 Reelcraft Industries Inc 66 lbs
9 Novae Llc-Columbia City 15 lbs
10 Titus Precision LLC 0 lbs
11 C & a Tool Engineering Inc 0 lbs
12 C & a Tool Engineering Inc. 0 lbs
13 Micropulse Inc 0 lbs

Superfund Sites (1)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Wayne Waste Oil NPL Site 42.33

Cities in Whitley (3)

Columbia City
11 facilities · 1 water
Churubusco
2 facilities · 1 water
South Whitley
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Whitley, Indiana? ▼
Whitley, IN has an environmental risk score of 42/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 13 TRI facilities, 1 Superfund sites, and 3 water systems on record. 1 water system have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Whitley? ▼
Yes, Whitley, IN has 1 Superfund site on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Whitley? ▼
Whitley, IN has 13 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 488.8K lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Whitley? ▼
In 2024, Whitley, IN recorded a median AQI of 35 and a peak AQI of 70. 76% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Whitley? ▼
Whitley, IN has 3 EPA-regulated water systems. 1 system has reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Whitley? ▼
Environmental compliance in Whitley, Indiana is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Indiana state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related Guides

Understanding EPA Data
How EPA collects and publishes environmental data
Environmental Justice
Who lives near polluters and environmental hazards
How to Check Environmental Quality
Step-by-step guide to checking your local environment

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

Browse all → | Rankings →
Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro