Public water system · VT0005176
ActiveWells River Water System
At a glance
Wells River Water System (PWSID VT0005176) is an active community water system in Orange County, Vermont. It reports serving 490 people through 130 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, none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
490
Service connections
130
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Wells River Water System compare with other water systems in Orange County?
By EPA's size categories, Wells River Water System is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Orange County has 70 active public water systems. Its population served is about 65% above the county average of 298 people per system, and accounts for 2.4% of the 20,846 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 Wells River Water System 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 Wells River Water System?
EPA lists Wells River 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. 19 of the 70 active systems in Orange County (27%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Wells River Water System have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023. The violations listed here began between October 2018 and July 2023. By type: 10 monitoring and reporting, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 monitoring. The contaminants or rules involved are Consumer Confidence Rule, Nitrate, Haloacetic acids (HAA5) and Total trihalomethanes (TTHM). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-02-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Dichloromethanecode 2964 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 1,1,1-Trichloroethanecode 2981 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 1,2-Dichloroethanecode 2980 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Styrenecode 2996 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | trans-1,2-Dichloroethylenecode 2979 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | o-Dichlorobenzenecode 2968 | 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.
Wells River Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Wells River Water System?
Wells River Water System (PWSID VT0005176) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the VT state drinking water program.
How many people does Wells River Water System serve?
Wells River Water System reports serving 490 people through 130 service connections in Orange County, Vermont.
Where does Wells River Water System 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 Wells River Water System have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023. 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 Wells River 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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the VT state drinking water program.
Where can I find Wells River Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Wells River 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 Orange County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph Village | Orange | 2,700 | Community | Groundwater |
| Bradford Village Water System | Orange | 1,512 | Community | Groundwater |
| Randolph Center Water System | Orange | 1,138 | Community | Groundwater |
| Williamstown Water Dept | Orange | 985 | Community | Groundwater |
| Fairlee Town Water | Orange | 967 | Community | Groundwater |
| Randolph Sb Rest Area | Orange | 783 | Transient non-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, “Wells River Water System, PWSID VT0005176, Vermont”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/vermont/wells-river-water-system-vt0005176 (data as of October 1, 2026).