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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for BENNINGTON WATER DEPT • Updated October 2026
Grade B — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
BENNINGTON WATER DEPT is in good standing with EPA, with only minor deductions for monitoring paperwork, low-level PFAS or historical readings near a limit.
Yes — by EPA's records Bennington, VT tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on lead at 13.2 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes — by EPA's records Bennington, VT tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on lead at 13.2 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
BENNINGTON WATER DEPT's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 13.2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for BENNINGTON WATER DEPT (2023-01-04 to 2023-10-03) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
BENNINGTON WATER DEPT has 11 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 11 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
BENNINGTON WATER DEPT reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 13,250 people (EPA PWSID VT0005016).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead and improves taste.
Compare filter options for your Bennington tap water
Lead was found at 13.2 ppb (90th percentile) in Bennington's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
See the filters matched to Bennington's EPA results → — which certification actually removes what was found here, and what it does not touch.
Unsure which contaminants to treat? Compare home kits and certified lab testing before buying.
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BENNINGTON WATER DEPT · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-10-16
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years. The 11 violations on file in that window are monitoring or reporting paperwork issues, not measured contaminant exceedances.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring, RegularArsenic | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Monitoring, RegularCadmium | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Monitoring, RegularChromium | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Monitoring, RegularAntimony, Total | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Monitoring, RegularThallium, Total | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Monitoring, RegularNickel | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Monitoring, RegularMercury | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Monitoring, RegularFluoride | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Monitoring, RegularSelenium | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Monitoring, RegularBarium | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Monitoring, RegularBeryllium, Total | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-04-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by BENNINGTON WATER DEPT
Below the action level, but detectable. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31), 90% of the homes BENNINGTON WATER DEPT sampled had lead at or below 13.2 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 13.2 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2018-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | 10.2 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2016-01-01 → 2018-12-31 | 7.4 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2014-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2013-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2011-01-01 → 2013-12-31 | 6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2005-01-01 → 2007-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2002-01-01 → 2004-12-31 | 11 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2003-01-01 → 2003-12-31 | 11 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1999-01-01 → 2001-12-31 | 6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1997-01-01 → 1997-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-01-04 to 2023-10-03 · 174 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for BENNINGTON WATER DEPT were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 6 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 6 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 6 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for BENNINGTON WATER DEPT · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples BENNINGTON WATER DEPT reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), Haloacetic acids (HAA5) are flagged below; the status column explains why. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 100 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 10 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N) | 1613 detects | 0.259 mg/L | 0.65 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 112 detects | 0.019 mg/L | 0.11 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 100 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 100 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Radium-226/228 | 21 detects | 0.361 pCi/L | 0.722 pCi/L | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 129128 detects | 40.869 µg/L | 96.5 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 8 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 128122 detects | 31.844 µg/L | 73.7 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 8 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Lead (tap samples) | 9042 detects | 3.338 µg/L | 94 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 9042 detects | 68.567 µg/L | 750 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Bennington will follow up - no obligation.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Bennington homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Bennington faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Bennington households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What Bennington residents measured at their own tap. All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Bennington yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Bennington ranks #7 of 8 graded Vermont cities.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in Bennington's water, with removal options for each.
Yes — by EPA's records Bennington, VT tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on lead at 13.2 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
BENNINGTON WATER DEPT's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 13.2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for BENNINGTON WATER DEPT (2023-01-04 to 2023-10-03) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
BENNINGTON WATER DEPT has 11 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 11 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
BENNINGTON WATER DEPT reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 13,250 people (EPA PWSID VT0005016).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead and improves taste.
Lead was found at 13.2 ppb (90th percentile) in Bennington's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
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Filters rated for lead reduction
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