Public water system · VT0021810
ActiveColchester Water System
At a glance
Colchester Water System (PWSID VT0021810) is an active community water system in Chittenden County, Vermont. It reports serving 11,299 people through 11,299 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
11,299
Service connections
11,299
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Colchester Water System compare with other water systems in Chittenden County?
By EPA's size categories, Colchester Water System is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Chittenden County has 96 active public water systems, and Colchester Water System is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 7.2 times the county average of 1,566 people per system, and accounts for 7.5% of the 150,374 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 Colchester Water System is about 69% above 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. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 50 Vermont systems (3.7%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Colchester Water System?
EPA lists Colchester Water System 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. 32 of the 96 active systems in Chittenden County (33%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Colchester Water System have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between July 2025 and July 2025. By type: 2 monitoring and reporting. The contaminants or rules involved are Haloacetic acids (HAA5) and Total trihalomethanes (TTHM). EPA lists 2 as archived. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Archived |
| 2025-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Archived |
All 2 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.
Colchester Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Colchester Water System?
Colchester Water System (PWSID VT0021810) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the VT state drinking water program.
How many people does Colchester Water System serve?
Colchester Water System reports serving 11,299 people through 11,299 service connections in Chittenden County, Vermont.
Where does Colchester Water System get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Colchester Water System have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. 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 Colchester Water System'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. EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the VT state drinking water program.
Where can I find Colchester Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Colchester Water System 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 Chittenden County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Dept Public Works Water Div | Chittenden | 42,000 | Community | Surface water |
| South Burlington City Water System | Chittenden | 19,500 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Essex Town Water System | Chittenden | 9,734 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Essex Jct Water Dept | Chittenden | 9,500 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Winooski Water Dept | Chittenden | 8,500 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Colchester Fire District 2 | Chittenden | 8,300 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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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, “Colchester Water System, PWSID VT0021810, Vermont”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/vermont/colchester-water-system-vt0021810 (data as of October 1, 2026).