How many public water systems are in Vermont?

Vermont has 1,356 active public water systems in EPA SDWIS records, including 404 community water systems. Together they report serving 646.2K people.

What is the largest water system in Vermont?

Burlington Dept Public Works Water Div is the largest active public water system in Vermont, serving a reported 42,000 people.

Does Vermont rely more on groundwater or surface water?

93% of Vermont's active public water systems draw primarily on groundwater and 7% on surface water (including purchased supplies).

Vermont public water systems

1,356 active systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, serving a reported 646.2K people across 14 counties.

Dataset updated July 2026 . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO, refreshed quarterly.

Active systems

1,356

Population served

646.2K

Community systems

404

Groundwater share

93%

System types in Vermont

404

Community water system

254

Non-transient non-community water system

698

Transient non-community water system

Largest water systems in Vermont

The largest active public water systems in Vermont by population served
#	Water system	County	Population served	Type	Source
1	Burlington Dept Public Works Water Div	Chittenden	42,000	Community	Surface water
2	South Burlington City Water System	Chittenden	19,500	Community	Purchased surface water
3	Rutland City Water Dept	Rutland	18,500	Community	Surface water
4	Barre City Water System	Washington	14,000	Community	Surface water
5	Bennington Water Dept	Bennington	13,250	Community	Surface water
6	Brattleboro Water Dept	Windham	12,200	Community	Surface water
7	Colchester Water System	Chittenden	11,299	Community	Purchased surface water
8	St Albans Water Dept	Franklin	10,200	Community	Surface water
9	Springfield Water Dept	Windsor	9,800	Community	Groundwater
10	Essex Town Water System	Chittenden	9,734	Community	Purchased surface water
11	Essex Jct Water Dept	Chittenden	9,500	Community	Purchased surface water
12	Middlebury Water Dept	Addison	9,379	Community	Groundwater
13	Montpelier Water System	Washington	8,912	Community	Surface water
14	Winooski Water Dept	Chittenden	8,500	Community	Purchased surface water
15	Colchester Fire District 2	Chittenden	8,300	Community	Purchased surface water
16	Milton Water Dept	Chittenden	8,260	Community	Purchased surface water
17	Hartford Water Dept	Windsor	7,600	Community	Groundwater
18	Williston Water Dept	Chittenden	7,259	Community	Purchased surface water
19	Jay Peak Water System	Orleans	6,740	Community	Groundwater
20	Winhall Stratton F D 1	Windham	6,200	Community	Groundwater
21	Edward Farrar Utility District	Washington	6,003	Community	Surface water
22	Shelburne Water Dept	Chittenden	5,764	Community	Purchased surface water
23	Northfield Water Dept	Washington	5,145	Community	Groundwater
24	Vergennes Panton Water District	Addison	5,100	Community	Surface water
25	St Johnsbury Water System	Caledonia	5,000	Community	Surface water

By county

Windham200 systems Rutland173 systems Windsor163 systems Washington127 systems Bennington124 systems Chittenden95 systems Franklin83 systems Orleans73 systems Orange70 systems Addison70 systems Lamoille69 systems Caledonia64 systems Grand Isle27 systems Essex18 systems