Is Colchester, VT Tap Water Safe? Quality & Contaminants

What was found in Colchester's water

The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.

Contaminant	Level vs EPA limit	Suppliers	Source
Copper	1600 µg/L 123% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L	3/8	SYR4
Barium	290 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L	1/8	SYR4
Fluoride	200 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L	1/8	SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	83.9 µg/L 140% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L	6/8	SYR4
TTHM	77.8 µg/L 97% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L	5/8	SYR4
Chloroform	72.7 µg/L No EPA limit set	5/8	SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid	42.9 µg/L No EPA limit set	6/8	SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid	38.7 µg/L No EPA limit set	5/8	SYR4
Lead	29.3 µg/L 195% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L	3/8	SYR4
Monochloroacetic Acid	15.2 µg/L No EPA limit set	3/8	SYR4
Bromodichloromethane	13.2 µg/L No EPA limit set	5/8	SYR4
Dibromochloromethane	9.7 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/8	SYR4
Combined Radium (-226 And -228)	3.8 pCi/L 76% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L	2/8	SYR4
Bromoform	3.5 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/8	SYR4
Pfba	0.0052 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/8	UCMR-5
Lead	0.0036 mg/L 24% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L	8/8	LCR

Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a running annual average while the figure is the single worst sample on record — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Formal violations are listed separately. These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide average. A detection means the lab measured the substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.

Water suppliers serving Colchester

Supplier	Population served
COLCHESTER WATER SYSTEM	11,299
COLCHESTER FIRE DISTRICT 2	8,300
WESTBURY PARK	663
HILLCREST MHP INC	615
MALLETTS BAY WATER CO	533
NORTH HARBOR	225
WINDEMERE MHP	199
CHIMNEY HILL COLCHESTER	42

Frequently asked questions about Colchester tap water

Is Colchester tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 16 contaminants in the water serving Colchester. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.

How many water suppliers serve Colchester?

8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Colchester, Vermont to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Colchester's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Colchester include Copper, Barium, Fluoride, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.

Where does this data come from?

Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.