Amherst, Town of
EPA ID: VA5009050 · 2,231 people served · 6 ZIP codes
Records for Amherst, Town of show 3 violations over the monitored period, with every finding addressed and officially closed — the provider, which serves approximately 2,231 people, carries no outstanding enforcement actions in the current EPA dataset and meets all applicable drinking water requirements.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Amherst, Town of Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Amherst, Town of serves a community with a median household income of $67,488 and an estimated 16,518 residents across its service area. Approximately 63% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 35% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Amherst, Town of's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Nelson County, Virginia rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Amherst, Town of compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Virginia
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
AMHERST, TOWN OF (EPA ID: VA5009050) is a community water system in Virginia that serves approximately 2,231 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 6 ZIP codes across 6 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (60/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24521 | 0.00074 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 3 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 3 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 22964 — Piney River
- 24521 — Amherst
- 24533 — Clifford
- 24553 — Gladstone
- 24574 — Monroe
- 24595 — Sweet Briar
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Amherst, Town of (VA5009050) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amherst, Town of water safe to drink?
Amherst, Town of has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Amherst, Town of serve?
Amherst, Town of serves approximately 2,231 people across 6 ZIP codes in Virginia.
Where does Amherst, Town of get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Amherst, Town of (EPA ID: VA5009050) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.