Public water system · VA1121045
ActiveBethel Area
At a glance
Bethel Area (PWSID VA1121045) is an active community water system in Montgomery County, Virginia. It reports serving 1,247 people through 163 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2018.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,247
Service connections
163
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bethel Area compare with other water systems in Montgomery County?
By EPA's size categories, Bethel Area is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Montgomery County has 27 active public water systems. Its population served is about half of the county average of 2,717 people per system, and accounts for 1.7% of the 73,361 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 Bethel Area 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. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 162 Virginia systems (6.7%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Bethel Area?
EPA lists Bethel Area 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. 10 of the 27 active systems in Montgomery County (37%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Bethel Area have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2018. The violations listed here began between July 2014 and July 2018. By type: 2 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 monitoring and reporting and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Haloacetic acids (HAA5) (3 of them). EPA lists 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-12-13 | Monitoring and reportingFailure Submit IDSE/Subpart V Plan Rpt · code 35 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
All 4 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.
Bethel Area: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bethel Area?
Bethel Area (PWSID VA1121045) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the VA state drinking water program.
How many people does Bethel Area serve?
Bethel Area reports serving 1,247 people through 163 service connections in Montgomery County, Virginia.
Where does Bethel Area 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 Bethel Area have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2018. 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 Bethel Area'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 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2018. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the VA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Bethel Area's water quality report?
As a community water system, Bethel Area 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 Montgomery County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg, Town of | Montgomery | 34,578 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Christiansburg Town of | Montgomery | 22,000 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Prices Fork/Merrimac | Montgomery | 4,541 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Christiansburg Elliston Waterline | Montgomery | 3,626 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Plum Creek | Montgomery | 1,740 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Radford Army Ammunition Plant | Montgomery | 1,602 | Community | 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, “Bethel Area, PWSID VA1121045, Virginia”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/virginia/bethel-area-va1121045 (data as of October 1, 2026).