Colchester
Colchester, VT water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
colchester fire district 2
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID VT0005059
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 16,986 residents, Colchester ranks as the 3rd-largest city in Vermont and a small but growing city. Water in Colchester is sourced chiefly from Lake Champlain, rivers, and groundwater, the backbone of Vermont's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: aging infrastructure. Small rural systems and PFAS detections shape a largely water-rich state.
Statewide, Vermont recycles about 3% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Colchester faces no meaningful drought conditions.
The Vermont state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Colchester's water future.
Chittenden County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~16,986 (3rd-largest in Vermont)
- Primary sources: Lake Champlain, rivers, and groundwater
- Drought: no meaningful conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Colchester?
Colchester's largest water system, COLCHESTER FIRE DISTRICT 2, serves about 8,300 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Colchester get its water?
COLCHESTER FIRE DISTRICT 2 draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Vermont's supply from Lake Champlain, rivers, groundwater.
Related water issues
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