Private Drinking Water Facts
- About three out of 10 Vermont households drink water from private wells.
- Private wells for household use are not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the State of Vermont, except if you drill a new well.
- Types of private drinking water sources include deep bedrock wells, shallow dug wells and groundwater springs.
- Private well owners are responsible for testing the quality of their own drinking water and maintaining their own wells. See the Health Department's water testing recommendations
Public Drinking Water Facts
- Vermont residents that receive a water bill are on public drinking water. Contact your water service provider if you experience a problem with your water supply or have a complaint. Their phone number should be on the water bill.
- All public water systems must conduct water quality monitoring. Testing must be performed at labs certified by the Health Department Laboratory.
- Public water treatment systems are regulated by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
- Public water suppliers send an annual Consumer Confidence Report to customers that gives information about the water source and the presence of contaminants (if any).
- Water quality can be affected by the plumbing leading to the home and by the type of plumbing and fixtures in the home. If you’re on public water, the Health Department recommends testing your water for lead.
- Disinfectants are added to public water to protect public health from microorganisms in drinking water. Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) can form when naturally occurring organic carbon reacts with chemical disinfectants such as chlorine.
Private Drinking Water Testing Recommendations
It's important to test your private well or spring for contaminants on a regular basis so you can address any problems with your water supply. The Health Department recommends testing for bacteria (Kit A), inorganic chemicals (Kit C) and gross alpha radiation (Kit RA). The table below gives more detail on each contaminant and how often to test.
Due to the COVID-19 response, the Health Department Laboratory has temporarily suspended drinking water testing. You can still order drinking water test kits from an alternate drinking water testing lab. You can also order a test for an individual contaminant, such as lead.
Contaminant |
Recommended Testing Schedule |
Health Department Lab Kit ID |
Health Effects |
---|---|---|---|
Every year |
Kit A |
Stomachaches, diarrhea, GI (gastrointestinal) diseases |
|
Every five years |
Kit C |
Increases risk of bladder, lung or skin cancer |
|
Chloride |
Every five years |
Kit C |
Chloride may indicate other contaminants are present in the water |
Every five years |
Kit C |
Stomachaches, vomiting, diarrhea, liver damage in young children |
|
Fluoride |
Every five years |
Kit C |
Fluoride levels above 4 mg/L can cause bone disease. Fluoride levels above 2 mg/L can cause staining or pitting of teeth. Optimal fluoride levels of 0.7 mg/L prevent tooth decay. |
Every five years |
Kit C |
Causes scale buildup in pipes and fixtures, gray staining of washed clothes |
|
Iron |
Every five years |
Kit C |
Unpleasant odors, stains and tastes |
Every five years |
Kit C |
Damage to brain, kidneys and nervous system |
|
Every five years |
Kit C |
Damage to the nervous system (memory, attention and motor skills) when consumed over a long period of time, infants may develop learning and behavior problems |
|
Every five years |
Kit C |
Methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) in infants |
|
Sodium |
Every five years |
Kit C |
Sodium may indicate other contaminants are present in the water, can be harmful to those on limited sodium diets |
Every five years |
Kit RA |
Cancer risk |
|
Every five years |
Kit RA |
Increased risk of bone cancer |
|
Every five years |
Kit RA |
Kidney damage |
There are some contaminants in the table below that are not on a recommended schedule for testing by the Health Department, but can be a concern to those on private and public water. See a complete list of tests available at the Health Department Laboratory
Contaminant |
How to test for the contaminant |
Health effects |
---|---|---|
Isolate the source of the smell |
Gas in the air can be hazardous at high levels, can indicate sewage or other pollution intrusion in drinking water |
|
Child development, infertility, increased cancer risk, and interference with hormones, the immune system and cholesterol levels |
||
Vermont Dept of Health Lab Kit RC |
Stomach cancer, lung cancer |
|
Synthetic Organic Chemicals (pesticides, semi-volatile chemicals) |
Vermont Dept of Health Lab Kit OL |
Cancer, cardiovascular problems, reproductive issues, liver problems |
Vermont Dept of Health Lab Kit OA |
Cancer and liver problems |
Download the Health Department's water testing recommendation fact sheet
Search an A-Z list of water contaminants
For questions about the health effects of contaminants and treatment options, call the Private Drinking Water Program at:
802-863-7220 or 800-439-8550 (toll-free in Vermont) or AHS.VDHEnvHealth@Vermont.gov.
Resources and More Information
- Find a water treatment specialist
- Find a licensed well driller
- Find an NSF-certified home water treatment system
- Health Department's general screening values for drinking water
- Lead Testing of Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities
- Fact sheet about water testing for realtors, home sellers and home buyers