Public water system · VA2091100
ActiveMcdowell
At a glance
Mcdowell (PWSID VA2091100) is an active community water system in Highland County, Virginia. It reports serving 115 people through 75 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
115
Service connections
75
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Mcdowell compare with other water systems in Highland County?
By EPA's size categories, Mcdowell is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Highland County has 2 active public water systems, and Mcdowell is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 45% below the county average of 208 people per system, and accounts for 28% of the 415 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 Mcdowell 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 2,089 Virginia systems (86%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Mcdowell?
EPA lists Mcdowell 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 2 active systems in Highland County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Mcdowell have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025. The violations listed here began between August 1991 and September 2025. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting, 2 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (7 of them). EPA lists 6 as resolved, 2 as archived 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. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-02 | ReportingNotification, Known or Potential LSL · code 4H | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2018-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1999-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1998-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) · code 25 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-12-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1991-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
All 9 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.
Mcdowell: frequently asked questions
Who runs Mcdowell?
Mcdowell (PWSID VA2091100) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the VA state drinking water program.
How many people does Mcdowell serve?
Mcdowell reports serving 115 people through 75 service connections in Highland County, Virginia.
Where does Mcdowell 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 Mcdowell have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 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 Mcdowell'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 9 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the VA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Mcdowell's water quality report?
As a community water system, Mcdowell 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 Highland County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey, Town of | Highland | 300 | 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, “Mcdowell, PWSID VA2091100, Virginia”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/virginia/mcdowell-va2091100 (data as of October 1, 2026).