Distribution System Monitoring (Total Coliform, Lead & Copper, Disinfection By-Products)
The Division provides real-time, up-to-date monitoring schedules on its website, available through the MONITORING SCHEDULES tool.
Total Coliform
Samples must be taken in the distribution system at locations previously approved in your Bacteriological Sampling Plan. All public systems need to have an approved coliform sampling plan under the Revised Total Coliform Rule. Resources are available on the RTCR page pertaining to bacteria monitoring.
Lead & Copper
Samples must be taken in the distribution system at locations previously approved in your Lead and Copper Sampling Plan. These locations are identified by the system as being most at risk for elevated levels of Lead and Copper. All distribution system Lead and Copper samples are taken as first-draw tap samples (with faucet strainers left in place) after the water has stood motionless in the plumbing system for at least 6 hours. Water systems are required to provide a copy of the lead and copper test results to all consumers whose homes/businesses were sampled (whether or not there was an exceedance) and comply with public education requirements when exceeding the lead action level (at the 90th percentile). All Public Community Water Systems must also include lead risk reduction language in their annual CCR. Resources are available on the Lead and Copper page pertaining to the regulation of lead and copper.
Disinfection By-Products (DBP) Monitoring
Public Community and Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems which regularly, routinely, contain a chemical disinfectant (chlorine, chloramine, etc.) are required to conduct DBP monitoring for total trihalomethanes and the five regulated haloacetic acids at the time when the water contains the chemical disinfectant. This includes Systems that use a chemical disinfectant annually during the summer months. This monitoring requirement does not apply when a system introduces a disinfectant under a defined emergency condition for a short duration of time. Resources are available on the DBP page pertaining to the regulation of DBPs.
Finished Water Monitoring - Chemical and Radionuclide
Samples must be taken at the entry point to the distribution system. This sample point is located after any treatment and storage and prior to the distribution system. Some systems without a sampling tap prior to distribution resort to taking entry point samples at the first tap. Please note that testing for asbestos, cyanide and radium are not performed by the Vermont Department of Health Lab. See the Chemical Monitoring page for more information.
Raw Water Monitoring - Groundwater Rule
The Groundwater Rule requires groundwater systems to have a source sample tap installed before water treatment. Source water monitoring is required if total coliform is present in the distribution system (otherwise known as “triggered source monitoring” - TG). If you have not already done so, please ensure that your system installs a raw water sampling tap.
Refer to the Chemical Groups Guidance Sheet for a list of individual chemicals required within the groups shown on your monitoring schedule.
Please submit all water quality monitoring data electronically to ANR.DWdata@vermont.gov
