Public water system · VA1173738
ActiveSouth Fork
At a glance
South Fork (PWSID VA1173738) is an active community water system in Smyth County, Virginia. It reports serving 150 people through 58 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is not health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
150
Service connections
58
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does South Fork compare with other water systems in Smyth County?
By EPA's size categories, South Fork is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Smyth County has 19 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 1,338 people per system, and accounts for 0.6% of the 25,421 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 South Fork 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 South Fork?
EPA lists South Fork 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. 13 of the 19 active systems in Smyth County (68%) are also owned by a local government.
Does South Fork have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is not health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015. By type: 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved is Consumer Confidence Rule. EPA lists 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
The one violation in EPA's records.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.
South Fork: frequently asked questions
Who runs South Fork?
South Fork (PWSID VA1173738) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the VA state drinking water program.
How many people does South Fork serve?
South Fork reports serving 150 people through 58 service connections in Smyth County, Virginia.
Where does South Fork 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 South Fork have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is not health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015. 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 South Fork'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 one violation for this system; it is not health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the VA state drinking water program.
Where can I find South Fork's water quality report?
As a community water system, South Fork 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 Smyth County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion, Town of | Smyth | 8,500 | Community | Surface water |
| Chilhowie, Town of | Smyth | 4,625 | Community | Purchased groundwater under influence |
| Thomas Bridge Water Corp | Smyth | 3,500 | Community | Surface water |
| Saltville, Town of | Smyth | 2,204 | Community | Groundwater |
| Watsons Gap Water System | Smyth | 1,892 | Community | Groundwater |
| Rye Valley Water Authority | Smyth | 1,276 | Community | Groundwater under influence of 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, “South Fork, PWSID VA1173738, Virginia”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/virginia/south-fork-va1173738 (data as of October 1, 2026).