Colchester, VT: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 91/100
3 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Colchester: A.
Checked records flag no major concern; missing data is unknown.
Based on available records, Colchester, VT holds an A or B ZipCheckup grade.
How Colchester Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Colchester Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 36 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0036 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 9.51.
Who Supplies Your Water in Colchester
More than one public water system is linked to Colchester, VT: federal records tie 5 systems to the area, and the 3 with the largest reported service populations are shown below. Which of them supplies a particular address depends on where the property sits, and a water bill or the utility can confirm it.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Colchester, Vermont (population ~17,605), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 52,111 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 3 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Colchester: A (91/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Colchester water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0036 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
3 of 3 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 3.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Asbestos | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05446 | A | 36 | 0 | Colchester Fire District 2 |
All ZIP Codes in Colchester
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Colchester
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Colchester Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Colchester Homeowners
Relative to home values, Colchester remediation estimates run low.
Estimated remediation costs in Colchester can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 27% above the Vermont average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Colchester
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Available area-level lead records for Colchester do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Colchester
Historical NFIP data for Colchester contains 55 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $23,756. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $500 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Colchester, VT