Public water system · VA1173785
ActiveWatsons Gap Water System
At a glance
Watsons Gap Water System (PWSID VA1173785) is an active community water system in Smyth County, Virginia. It reports serving 1,892 people through 522 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,892
Service connections
522
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Watsons Gap Water System compare with other water systems in Smyth County?
By EPA's size categories, Watsons Gap Water System is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Smyth County has 19 active public water systems, and Watsons Gap Water System is the 5th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 41% above the county average of 1,338 people per system, and accounts for 7.4% 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 Watsons Gap Water System 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 Watsons Gap Water System?
EPA lists Watsons Gap Water System 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 Watsons Gap Water System have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2023. The violations listed here began between January 2015 and January 2023. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 1 monitoring and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-09-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
All 6 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.
Watsons Gap Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Watsons Gap Water System?
Watsons Gap Water System (PWSID VA1173785) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the VA state drinking water program.
How many people does Watsons Gap Water System serve?
Watsons Gap Water System reports serving 1,892 people through 522 service connections in Smyth County, Virginia.
Where does Watsons Gap Water System 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 Watsons Gap Water System have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2023. 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 Watsons Gap Water System'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 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the VA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Watsons Gap Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Watsons Gap Water System 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 |
| Rye Valley Water Authority | Smyth | 1,276 | Community | Groundwater under influence of surface water |
| Walker Creek | Smyth | 1,135 | Community | Purchased groundwater under influence |
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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, “Watsons Gap Water System, PWSID VA1173785, Virginia”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/virginia/watsons-gap-water-system-va1173785 (data as of October 1, 2026).