Colchester, VT: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 91/100
3 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Colchester: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
The water systems supplying Colchester show a track record of above-average compliance with federal standards - consistently among the better performers in VT.
How Colchester Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Colchester Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 36 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0036 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $867 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 9.51.
Who Supplies Your Water in Colchester
3 water utilities share the residential service territory in Colchester, VT - out of 5 total systems in federal records.
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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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 3 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Uranium | Radionuclides | 4 | 1 |
| PFOA | PFAS | 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). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
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
Within the Colchester market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity - the financial burden is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Colchester are relatively low compared to home values. The $517–$1,467 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 27% above the Vermont average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Colchester
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Lead risk in Colchester appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. 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 <strong>$867</strong> 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