Health Violations Found VT 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Colchester Fire District 2

EPA ID: VT0005059 · 8,300 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Based on the latest federal compliance data, Colchester Fire District 2 has 2 violations that the EPA has not yet closed — those outstanding findings are part of the enforcement record for a utility that delivers water to approximately 8,300 people throughout its service territory.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 84
Avg Safety Score
8,300
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
14
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
6
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Colchester Fire District 2 Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$97,442
Median Household Income
17,605
Service Area Population
9%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
54%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Colchester Fire District 2 serves a community with a median household income of $97,442 and an estimated 17,605 residents across its service area. Approximately 54% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Colchester Fire District 2'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
80th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Chittenden County, Vermont rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

44 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Unknown
Pipe Material
23 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 66% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Colchester Fire District 2 compares to EPA limits

Uranium 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.03 mg/L
Kidney toxicity, increased cancer risk
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 4 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Uranium at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.03 mg/L. Kidney toxicity, increased cancer risk. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

State limits: PFAS5: 0.02 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Uranium was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Vermont

A 1 violation
A 4 violations
B 4 violations
B 56 violations
A 3 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $400
Water Filtration $300
PFAS Treatment $167
Total Estimated Cost $867

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,165
10 years
$10,330
20 years
$20,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $867 (one-time) vs. $10,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Colchester Fire District 2 (EPA ID: VT0005059) is a community water system in Vermont that serves approximately 8,300 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 1 community.

Average Home Safety Score: B (84/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 2 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Unresolved
December 30, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
November 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2023 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 4 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 4 No
Uranium Radionuclides 2 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Barium Inorganic 1 Yes
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment 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
05446 0.001 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 1 ZIP code confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Colchester Fire District 2 (VT0005059) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colchester Fire District 2 water safe to drink?

Colchester Fire District 2 has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Colchester Fire District 2 serve?

Colchester Fire District 2 serves approximately 8,300 people across 3 ZIP codes in Vermont.

Where does Colchester Fire District 2 get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Purchased from another utility
Treated water purchased wholesale from another water system.

Source: COLCHESTER FIRE DISTRICT 2 Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
116
Detections
1
Latest sample
4/18/2023
Highest analyte
PFBA: 5.2 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 5.2 ppt

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1,616
Unknown Material
1,050
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 8,300
Reported to Vermont

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Colchester Fire District 2 safe to drink?
Colchester Fire District 2 earns a B safety grade with 14 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Colchester Fire District 2's water?
Detected contaminants include Uranium, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Stage 1 DBP Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Colchester Fire District 2 serve?
Colchester Fire District 2 serves approximately 8,300 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Colchester Fire District 2's water source?
Colchester Fire District 2 draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Colchester Fire District 2's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.001 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Colchester Fire District 2's service area?
The Colchester Fire District 2 service area has a median household income of $97,442. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Colchester Fire District 2 get its water?
Colchester Fire District 2'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. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Colchester Fire District 2 (EPA ID: VT0005059) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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