Health Violations Found VT 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Hartford Water Department

EPA ID: VT0005319 · 7,600 people served · 5 ZIP codes

Looking at the EPA enforcement file for Hartford Water Department, 11 violations are listed as unresolved — those findings cover the utility's service area of approximately 7,600 people and remain open in the federal compliance system, awaiting formal corrective action documentation.

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

B · 75
Avg Safety Score
7,600
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
56
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0024 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
9
Contaminants Flagged
$250K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 2 (2023) to 2 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$74,369
Median Household Income
31,045
Service Area Population
12%
Disadvantaged Population
48th
Poverty Percentile
90th
Energy Burden Percentile
75%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Hartford Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $74,369 and an estimated 31,045 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

Hartford 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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
44th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
44th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Windsor 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

58 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
11 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 84% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Hartford Water Department compares to EPA limits

Lead 1 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 3 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns
Selenium 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.05 mg/L
Hair & nail loss, nerve damage, liver & kidney damage

What This Means For You

Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 3 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 33 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Selenium at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.05 mg/L. Hair & nail loss, nerve damage, liver & kidney damage. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 9 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Lead 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 3 violations
A 4 violations
B 14 violations
A 1 violation
B 4 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,340
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $180
Total Estimated Cost $1,920

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 $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,500
10 years
$15,000
20 years
$30,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,920 (one-time) vs. $15,000 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

Hartford Water Department (EPA ID: VT0005319) is a community water system in Vermont that serves approximately 7,600 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (75/100)

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. 11 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
August 4, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
April 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved
March 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Unresolved
December 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
November 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Unresolved
September 30, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
September 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
August 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
April 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
March 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
February 9, 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2024 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Unresolved
November 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 33 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 9 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 5 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 3 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 2 No
Selenium Inorganic 1 No
Lead Inorganic 1 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 Yes
Lead and Copper 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
05047 0.0024 mg/L No N/A
05001 0.0011 mg/L No N/A
05088 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: 4 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 Hartford Water Department (VT0005319) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hartford Water Department water safe to drink?

Hartford 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 Hartford Water Department serve?

Hartford Water Department serves approximately 7,600 people across 5 ZIP codes in Vermont.

Where does Hartford 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: HARTFORD 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
116

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
11
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1,515
Unknown Material
707
Confirmed Non-Lead

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 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 7,600
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 Hartford Water Department safe to drink?
Hartford Water Department earns a B safety grade with 56 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Hartford Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Selenium. 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 Hartford Water Department serve?
Hartford Water Department serves approximately 7,600 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Hartford Water Department's water source?
Hartford Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Hartford Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0024 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Hartford Water Department's service area?
The Hartford Water Department service area has a median household income of $74,369. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Hartford Water Department get its water?
Hartford 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 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

Hartford Water Department (EPA ID: VT0005319) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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