Health Violations Found VT 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Northfield Water Department

EPA ID: VT0005275 · 5,145 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Since the flagged events, Northfield Water Department resolved all 2 violations — compliant today, 5,145 residents served.

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

C · 69
Avg Safety Score
5,145
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.005 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
2
Contaminants Flagged
$254K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Northfield Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$72,247
Median Household Income
7,601
Service Area Population
3%
Disadvantaged Population
37th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
75%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Northfield Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $72,247 and an estimated 7,601 residents across its service area. Approximately 75% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Northfield Water Department's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
23th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
27th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 0% of homes in Washington County, Vermont rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

67 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
2 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 97% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Northfield Water Department compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Vermont

B 4 violations
C 2 violations
B 7 violations
A 3 violations
Bromley Water Company
4,300 people
B 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,000
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $100
Total Estimated Cost $1,500

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 $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,500 (one-time) vs. $5,000 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

Northfield Water Department (EPA ID: VT0005275) is a community water system in Vermont that serves approximately 5,145 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (69/100)

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. All violations have been resolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 Yes

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
05663 0.005 mg/L No N/A
05669 0.001 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 Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP 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 Northfield Water Department (VT0005275) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Northfield Water Department water safe to drink?

Northfield Water Department 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 Northfield Water Department serve?

Northfield Water Department serves approximately 5,145 people across 3 ZIP codes in Vermont.

Where does Northfield Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Water Source & Treatment

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

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.

Source: NORTHFIELD WATER DEPT 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: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
58

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
0
Unknown Material
1,063
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: 5,145
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 Northfield Water Department safe to drink?
Northfield Water Department has a C safety grade based on 2 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Northfield Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 2 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 Northfield Water Department serve?
Northfield Water Department serves approximately 5,145 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Northfield Water Department's water source?
Northfield Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Northfield Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.005 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Northfield Water Department's service area?
The Northfield Water Department service area has a median household income of $72,247. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Northfield Water Department get its water?
Northfield Water Department's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

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

Northfield Water Department (EPA ID: VT0005275) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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