Hartford
Hartford, VT water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
sterling spring
groundwater (wells) · private · PWSID VT0020552
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 9,779 residents, Hartford ranks as the 6th-largest city in Vermont and a small but growing city. Water in Hartford 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, Hartford faces no meaningful drought conditions.
The Vermont state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Hartford's water future.
Windsor County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~9,779 (6th-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 Hartford?
Hartford's largest water system, STERLING SPRING, serves about 200 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 2.3 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Hartford get its water?
STERLING SPRING draws primarily from groundwater (wells), 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