Health Violations Found VT 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Barre Town Water System

EPA ID: VT0005566 · 1,638 people served · 4 ZIP codes

Based on the latest federal compliance data, Barre Town Water System has 6 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 1,638 people throughout its service territory.

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

B · 80
Avg Safety Score
1,638
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
8
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0029 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
8
Contaminants Flagged
$206K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 2 (2024) to 1 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Barre Town Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$80,843
Median Household Income
18,616
Service Area Population
5%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
82%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Barre Town Water System serves a community with a median household income of $80,843 and an estimated 18,616 residents across its service area. Approximately 82% 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

Barre Town Water System'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
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
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

90 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Lead
Pipe Material
5 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 95% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Barre Town Water System compares to EPA limits

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

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

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Total Organic Carbon at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Gross Alpha at 1 pCi/L exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L. Increased cancer risk from radioactive particles. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

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 →

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Vermont

A 2 violations
Jackson Gore Okemo
1,695 people
0 violations
0 violations
0 violations
B 9 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $450
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $150
PFAS Treatment $150
Total Estimated Cost $1,150

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 $1,150 (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

Barre Town Water System (EPA ID: VT0005566) is a community water system in Vermont that serves approximately 1,638 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (80/100)

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. 6 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
December 30, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
November 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Unresolved
October 1, 2024 Radium-228 Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2024 Gross Alpha Monitoring Unresolved
April 1, 2024 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2024 Total Organic Carbon Monitoring Resolved
December 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved

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 2 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Total Organic Carbon Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Gross Alpha Radionuclides 1 No
Radium-228 Radionuclides 1 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment 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
05678 0.0029 mg/L No N/A
05649 0.0013 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: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by VT or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Barre Town Water System (VT0005566) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Barre Town Water System water safe to drink?

Barre Town Water System 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 Barre Town Water System serve?

Barre Town Water System serves approximately 1,638 people across 4 ZIP codes in Vermont.

Where does Barre Town Water System 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: BARRE TOWN WATER SYSTEM Consumer Confidence Report.

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

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
324
Unknown Material
159
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: 1,638
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 Barre Town Water System safe to drink?
Barre Town Water System earns a B safety grade with 8 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Barre Town Water System's water?
Detected contaminants include Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Surface Water Treatment Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Total Organic Carbon. 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 Barre Town Water System serve?
Barre Town Water System serves approximately 1,638 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Barre Town Water System's water source?
Barre Town Water System draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Barre Town Water System's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0029 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Barre Town Water System's service area?
The Barre Town Water System service area has a median household income of $80,843. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Barre Town Water System get its water?
Barre Town Water System'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

Barre Town Water System (EPA ID: VT0005566) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems Vermont Barre Town Water System

Get safety alerts for Barre Town Water System, Vermont

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Violations found — check filter options Free tool — no phone call required.