Public water system · VT0005020
ActiveDorset Fire District 1
At a glance
Dorset Fire District 1 (PWSID VT0005020) is an active community water system in Bennington County, Vermont. It reports serving 530 people through 215 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 December 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
530
Service connections
215
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Dorset Fire District 1 compare with other water systems in Bennington County?
By EPA's size categories, Dorset Fire District 1 is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Bennington County has 123 active public water systems. Its population served is about 46% above the county average of 363 people per system, and accounts for 1.2% of the 44,630 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 Dorset Fire District 1 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 Dorset Fire District 1?
EPA lists Dorset Fire District 1 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 123 active systems in Bennington County (13%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Dorset Fire District 1 have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2025. The violations listed here began between December 2007 and December 2025. By type: 10 monitoring and reporting, 1 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 of them). EPA lists 11 as resolved and 1 as unaddressed. 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. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2015-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-11-01 | 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 and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-05-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | 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.
Dorset Fire District 1: frequently asked questions
Who runs Dorset Fire District 1?
Dorset Fire District 1 (PWSID VT0005020) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the VT state drinking water program.
How many people does Dorset Fire District 1 serve?
Dorset Fire District 1 reports serving 530 people through 215 service connections in Bennington County, Vermont.
Where does Dorset Fire District 1 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 Dorset Fire District 1 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 December 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 Dorset Fire District 1'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 December 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 Dorset Fire District 1's water quality report?
As a community water system, Dorset Fire District 1 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 Bennington County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennington Water Dept | Bennington | 13,250 | Community | Surface water |
| Bromley Water Company | Bennington | 4,300 | Community | Groundwater |
| Manchester Water Dept | Bennington | 4,140 | Community | Groundwater |
| North Bennington Water Dept | Bennington | 1,700 | Community | Surface water |
| Arlington Water Dept | Bennington | 1,250 | Community | Groundwater |
| Bennington College | Bennington | 1,000 | 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, “Dorset Fire District 1, PWSID VT0005020, Vermont”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/vermont/dorset-fire-district-1-vt0005020 (data as of October 1, 2026).