Giles County, Virginia — public water systems

How does Giles County compare with other Virginia counties?

Giles County has the 37th-most active public water systems among the 138 counties listed for active Virginia systems in EPA records; among the 99 with 3 or more systems, the median has 20. Its systems report 11,179 people served in total, the 52nd-largest county figure in the state and 0.1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 447 people, well below the Virginia average of 3,122. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Giles County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Giles County's active systems draw on purchased groundwater under influence (15, 60%), groundwater (9, 36%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 4%). Overall, all rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and none on surface water, compared with 89% and 11% across Virginia. Purchased groundwater under the influence of surface water means the system buys that kind of water from another public water system. The county's largest system, Town of Pearisburg, draws primarily on purchased groundwater under influence.

What kinds of water systems operate in Giles County?

Giles County's active systems break down as 17 community systems (68%), 2 non-transient non-community systems (8%) and 6 transient non-community systems (24%). 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. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (60%), private (24%), federal government (12%) and state government (4%).