Vermont
Vermont sits in the Northeast and draws its water primarily from Lake Champlain, rivers, and groundwater. With roughly 0.65 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater.
Vermontwater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Vermont
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 28 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 17 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 16 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 9 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | 6 |
| Coliform (TCR) | 5 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Small rural systems and PFAS detections shape a largely water-rich state.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Vermont currently tracks around no drought conditions. Vermont has 377 community water systems serving about 0 million people; EPA records show 78 of them (20.7%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Vermont in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 112 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 0.1 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 40.4%
- Irrigation share
- 3.4%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~3%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Lake Champlain
- ≈ rivers
- ≈ groundwater
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Vermont?
Vermont has 377 community water systems serving about 0 million people. EPA records show 78 of them (20.7%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 10 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Vermont's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, Lead and Copper Rule, Revised Total Coliform Rule.
How much water does Vermont use per person?
Public water systems in Vermont withdraw about 112 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 40.4% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Vermont?
As of 2026-06-09, 0% of Vermont is in drought (D1+) and 0% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Vermont
6 trackedBurlington
Burlington, VT water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
South Burlington
South Burlington, VT water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Colchester
Colchester, VT water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Rutland
Rutland, VT water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Essex Junction
Essex Junction, VT water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Hartford
Hartford, VT water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Vermont
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExplorePFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
Explore