drinking water - water quality monitoring

The summer of 2024 marks the tenth year of DWGPD's voluntary cyanotoxin monitoring program for public drinking water systems. This program offers no-cost analysis of raw and finished water for microcystin (a potent liver toxin produced by some species of cyanobacteria) to surface water systems across the state.  Samples are analyzed on a weekly basis from July to early November by the Vermont Agriculture and Environmental Laboratory (VAEL).

Thank you for your patience as we update this page and consolidate data for ease of access.

Disinfection Byproducts and Their Regulation

All public water systems in Vermont must conduct required monitoring of their drinking water in accordance with state and federal regulations. Drinking water monitoring is necessary to ensure that public health is being adequately protected. Chemical Contaminants are largely regulated under the Chemical Contaminants Rule, or federal Phase II/V Rule.

Terms to know:

All public water systems must perform water quality monitoring to demonstrate that the water provided to customers is safe to drink. The kinds of samples that are required, the number of samples that are required, and the frequency of collection are based on the water system type, population, treatment, and water quality history.  Water quality monitoring requirements for TNC water systems can be divided into two general categories:  source permitting water quality monitoring and routine water quality monitoring.

The Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) is effective April 1, 2016 and utilizes regular bacteria (coliform) monitoring as an indicator for system integrity, to signal possible fecal contamination, and the presence of waterborne pathogens. The RTCR applies to every public drinking water system in Vermont. This new rule is an update to the 1989 Total Coliform Rule and provides some key changes.

What are Cyanobacteria? 

Monitoring Schedules are provided on an annual basis by the Division, in mid-January.  Schedules are not finalized until an official notification email is sent to the system's official contacts of record (Administrative Contact and Designated Operator).  Once finalized, the current year schedule will no longer contain a red disclaimer message at the top that indicates an unofficial copy.

Water systems are responsible for conducting monitoring of drinking water to ensure that it meets all drinking water standards as determined by its monitoring schedule which can be checked via the Drinking Water Database Search Tool. The frequency of monitoring is often dependent on the contaminant, and the population served by the public water system.

Public Water Systems conducting water quality monitoring for constituents under the Safe Drinking Water Act State and State of Vermont Water Supply Rule, Chapter 21, are required to have all samples analyzed by a laboratory certified for drinking water analyses by the Vermont Department of Health.

Lead and copper are metals that can enter drinking water, primarily from plumbing materials. Community and Non-Transient Non-Community public water systems are regulated under the federal Lead and Copper Rule and the Vermont Water Supply Rule that incorporates the federal rule by reference.