Public water system · VT0005002
ActiveBristol Water Dept
At a glance
Bristol Water Dept (PWSID VT0005002) is an active community water system in Addison County, Vermont. It reports serving 2,103 people through 695 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2016.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,103
Service connections
695
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bristol Water Dept compare with other water systems in Addison County?
By EPA's size categories, Bristol Water Dept is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Addison County has 70 active public water systems, and Bristol Water Dept is the 4th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 4.5 times the county average of 467 people per system, and accounts for 6.4% of the 32,655 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Vermont, the 1,357 active systems average 477 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Bristol Water Dept is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Vermont has 405 active community water systems, 30% of the state's 1,357 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 1,243 Vermont systems (92%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Bristol Water Dept?
EPA lists Bristol Water Dept as owned by a local government. The VT state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 16 of the 70 active systems in Addison County (23%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Bristol Water Dept have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2016. The violations listed here began between January 2002 and October 2016. By type: 11 monitoring and reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (3 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2012-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nickelcode 1036 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Thalliumcode 1085 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Bristol Water Dept: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bristol Water Dept?
Bristol Water Dept (PWSID VT0005002) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the VT state drinking water program.
How many people does Bristol Water Dept serve?
Bristol Water Dept reports serving 2,103 people through 695 service connections in Addison County, Vermont.
Where does Bristol Water Dept get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Bristol Water Dept have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2016. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Bristol Water Dept's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2016. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the VT state drinking water program.
Where can I find Bristol Water Dept's water quality report?
As a community water system, Bristol Water Dept must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Addison County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlebury Water Dept | Addison | 9,379 | Community | Groundwater |
| Vergennes Panton Water District | Addison | 5,100 | Community | Surface water |
| Tri Town Water District | Addison | 3,800 | Community | Surface water |
| Branbury State Park | Addison | 963 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Kampersville Campground and Store | Addison | 864 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| East Middlebury Fd 1 | Addison | 642 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Bristol Water Dept, PWSID VT0005002, Vermont”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/vermont/bristol-water-dept-vt0005002 (data as of October 1, 2026).