Public water system · VA5009050
ActiveAmherst, Town of
At a glance
Town of Amherst (PWSID VA5009050) is an active community water system in Amherst County, Virginia. It reports serving 2,231 people through 1,170 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, 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 August 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,231
Service connections
1,170
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Town of Amherst compare with other water systems in Amherst County?
By EPA's size categories, Town of Amherst is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Amherst County has 12 active public water systems, and Town of Amherst is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 47% above the county average of 1,523 people per system, and accounts for 12% of the 18,270 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Virginia, the 2,420 active systems average 3,122 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Town of Amherst 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. Virginia has 844 active community water systems, 35% of the state's 2,420 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 110 Virginia systems (4.5%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Town of Amherst?
EPA lists Town of Amherst as owned by a local government. The VA state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 2 of the 12 active systems in Amherst County (17%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Town of Amherst have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2024. The violations listed here began between January 2018 and August 2024. By type: 10 monitoring and reporting, 1 monitoring and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Chlorine (2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-03-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | cis-1,2-Dichloroethylenecode 2380 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Fluoridecode 1025 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Xylenes, Totalcode 2955 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitrate-Nitritecode 1038 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Chromiumcode 1020 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Dichloromethanecode 2964 | 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.
Town of Amherst: frequently asked questions
Who runs Town of Amherst?
Town of Amherst (PWSID VA5009050) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the VA state drinking water program.
How many people does Town of Amherst serve?
Town of Amherst reports serving 2,231 people through 1,170 service connections in Amherst County, Virginia.
Where does Town of Amherst get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Town of Amherst 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 August 2024. 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 Town of Amherst'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 August 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the VA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Town of Amherst's water quality report?
As a community water system, Town of Amherst 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 Amherst County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Co Service Authority (Acsa) | Amherst | 14,799 | Community | Surface water |
| Greif Riverville | Amherst | 324 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Apple Market | Amherst | 200 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Crossroads Camp | Amherst | 184 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Lynchburg Nw/Blue Ridge Parkway Koa | Amherst | 103 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Ukrop Conference Center | Amherst | 101 | 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, “Amherst, Town of, PWSID VA5009050, Virginia”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/virginia/amherst-town-of-va5009050 (data as of October 1, 2026).