Vermont tap water quality

404 community water systems serving 465,050 people.

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

systems with PFAS above a federal limit

people served by them

systems EPA tested for PFAS

systems above the lead action level

PFAS: EPA's 2023–2025 testing. Lead: results from the last five years. 2 more systems have no recent lead results in EPA's database.

Vermont's own PFAS limits

Vermont enforces its own drinking water limits for PFAS (effective: 2026-01-01): PFOA 4 ppt, PFOS 4 ppt, PFHxS 10 ppt, PFNA 10 ppt, HFPO-DA 10 ppt. The federal limits are 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS.

State Water Supply Rule. It adds Hazard Index MCL of 1 (PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, PFBS). Replaced 2020 VT MCL of 20 ppt sum of PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHpA, PFNA.

Source: Vermont DEC: 2026 Water Supply Rule PFAS operator training (March 2026). See also https://dec.vermont.gov/water/drinking-water/water-quality-monitoring/pfas, checked 2026-11-14. Utility pages compare each system's EPA results with these limits. State compliance is judged on the state's own sampling.

Largest water systems in Vermont

Burlington Dept Public Works Water Division
42,000 people · Surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
South Burlington City Water System
19,500 people · Purchased surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Rutland City Water Dept
18,500 people · Surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Barre City Water System
14,000 people · Surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Bennington Water Dept
13,250 people · Surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Brattleboro Water Dept
12,200 people · Surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Colchester Water System
11,299 people · Purchased surface water · Vermont
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
St Albans Water Dept
10,200 people · Surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limitsAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Springfield Water Dept
9,800 people · Groundwater · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Essex Town Water System
9,734 people · Purchased surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Essex Jct Water Dept
9,500 people · Purchased surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Middlebury Water Dept
9,379 people · Groundwater · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Montpelier Water System
8,912 people · Surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Winooski Water Dept
8,500 people · Purchased surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits
Colchester Fire District 2
8,300 people · Purchased surface water · Vermont
No PFAS above limits

Vermont cities and towns

Burlington

Most health-based violations since 2016

Okemo Village Condominiums Water System
180 people · Groundwater · Vermont
Uranium violations
Christmas Tree – Sundown Condominium Water System
110 people · Groundwater · Vermont
Lead above action levelAlso: Radium (combined 226/228) violations
Battleground Condominium Water System
166 people · Groundwater · Vermont
Radium (combined 226/228) violations
Hemlock Ridge Condominium Water System
63 people · Groundwater · Vermont
Radium (combined 226/228) violations
Killington Gateway I Condo Association
68 people · Groundwater · Vermont
Lead above action levelAlso: Radium (combined 226/228) violations
Telemark Village Water System
82 people · Groundwater · Vermont
Radium (combined 226/228) violations
Meadows – Gables I Water System
310 people · Purchased surface water · Vermont
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violations
Alburgh Fire District 1
87 people · Surface water · Vermont
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violations
Heritage Hill Association
102 people · Purchased surface water · Vermont
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violations
Vernon Hall Water System
50 people · Groundwater · Vermont
Uranium violations
South Hero Fire District 4
760 people · Surface water · Vermont
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violationsAlso: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violations
Whiffletree Condominium Water System
189 people · Groundwater · Vermont
Radium (combined 226/228) violations
Gables II Water System
22 people · Purchased surface water · Vermont
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violations
Rutland Town Fire District 11
29 people · Purchased surface water · Vermont
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violationsAlso: Lead near 2027 level
Huntington Fire District 1
120 people · Groundwater · Vermont
Coliform bacteria violation

Questions

Does Vermont tap water have PFAS?

EPA tested 34 community water systems in Vermont for 29 PFAS between 2023 and 2025. 0 had at least one regulated PFAS detected, and 0 had an entry-point average above a 2024 federal limit. Those 0 systems serve about 0 people. Systems have until 2029 to meet the limits.

How many Vermont water systems have violations?

81 systems in Vermont had at least one health-based violation since 2016 (236 violations in total). 195 violations are currently listed as unaddressed.

Which Vermont water systems are over the lead action level?

7 systems had a lead 90th percentile above the 15 ppb action level in their most recent results from the last five years. Another 2 systems have no lead results in EPA's database from the last five years. Lead depends on each home's pipes, so a test of your own tap is the only way to know your level.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.