State Well Water Guide
Vermont Private Well Water Guide
Approximately half of Vermont residents rely on private wells for drinking water. Vermont's geology — Green Mountain metamorphic and granitic rock in the east, limestone and dolomite in the Champlain Valley — creates distinct contamination patterns by region. Arsenic is documented in wells across both the crystalline bedrock and the carbonate Champlain Valley geology. Vermont is also home to a significant documented PFAS contamination site in Bennington, where manufacturing by Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics contaminated private wells and the municipal supply with PFOA. Vermont has its own PFAS MCL of 20 ppt (sum of six compounds), stricter than the federal standard.
Testing Guidance
Vermont DEC recommends annual testing for coliform bacteria and nitrates. Test for arsenic every 3–5 years, or immediately if you have not tested before. Wells in or near Bennington, North Bennington, and Hoosick Falls NY area should be tested for PFAS. Agricultural areas warrant nitrate and atrazine testing. New well owners should conduct a comprehensive baseline test. If your home was built before 1988, test for lead.
What to Test For in Vermont
Total coliform bacteria and E. coli — annual minimum
Arsenic — statewide; documented in both crystalline bedrock and Champlain Valley carbonate wells
PFAS — Bennington area mandatory; elsewhere near industrial or military sites
Nitrates — agricultural areas (Champlain Valley dairy farms, horticultural areas)
Radon in water — Green Mountain granite terrain; elevated in many eastern VT wells
Manganese — glacial till wells; naturally elevated in many Vermont wells
Lead — homes built before 1988 with older plumbing fixtures
Uranium — granitic bedrock areas in eastern Vermont
Common Contamination Risks in Vermont
PFAS from Saint-Gobain manufacturing in Bennington — PFOA contamination of private wells and municipal supplies in Bennington and North Bennington; state has conducted extensive testing and provided filtration to affected residents
Naturally occurring arsenic from bedrock — documented across Vermont; both crystalline and dolomite geology can release arsenic into groundwater
Radon dissolved in water from Green Mountain granite — east-central Vermont has elevated radon in groundwater
Agricultural nitrates from dairy farms — Champlain Valley has intensive dairy agriculture with documented nitrogen loading to shallow aquifers
Manganese from glacial sediments — naturally elevated in many Vermont wells; causes staining and has neurotoxic effects at high concentrations
Coliform bacteria from aging dug wells or poorly sealed bedrock wells — common in older Vermont farm properties
Contaminant Guides Relevant to VT Wells
PFAS
Synthetic Chemicals
EPA limit: 4 ppt
Lead
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 15 ppb (action level)
Nitrates
Agricultural Chemicals
EPA limit: 10 mg/L
DBPs
Disinfection Byproducts
EPA limit: 80 µg/L (TTHMs) / 60 µg/L (HAA5)
Arsenic
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 10 ppb
Hard Water
Minerals
EPA limit: No federal limit
Chlorine
Disinfection Chemicals
EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MRDL)
Microplastics
Emerging Contaminants
EPA limit: No federal limit
Bacteria
Microbial Contamination
EPA limit: Zero E. coli / < 1 coliform per 100 mL
Fluoride
Minerals
EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MCL) / 2 mg/L (Secondary MCL)
Chromium-6
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 100 ppb (total chromium)
Copper
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 1.3 mg/L (action level)
Radon
Radioactive Contaminants
EPA limit: No finalized MCL
Iron & Manganese
Minerals
EPA limit: 0.3 mg/L iron / 0.05 mg/L manganese (aesthetic SMCLs)
Atrazine
Agricultural Chemicals
EPA limit: 3 ppb (0.003 mg/L)
Uranium
Radioactive Contaminants
EPA limit: 30 µg/L (30 ppb)
Perchlorate
Industrial Chemicals
EPA limit: 0.056 mg/L (56 ppb)
VOCs
Industrial Chemicals
EPA limit: Varies by compound: benzene 5 ppb; TCE 5 ppb; PCE 5 ppb; vinyl chloride 2 ppb
Radium
Radioactive Contaminants
EPA limit: 5 pCi/L (combined Ra-226 + Ra-228)
Crypto & Giardia
Microbial Contamination
EPA limit: Zero (treatment technique standard)
Hydrogen Sulfide
Naturally Occurring Compounds
EPA limit: No MCL; Secondary MCL (aesthetic) of 0.05 mg/L
Selenium
Minerals
EPA limit: 50 ppb (0.05 mg/L)
Cadmium
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 5 ppb (0.005 mg/L)
Mercury
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 2 ppb (0.002 mg/L)
Barium
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 2 mg/L
Find a Certified Lab in Vermont
Use the Vermont state-certified laboratory program to find accredited labs for private well testing. Always verify current certification before submitting samples.
VT Certified Lab Directory ↗Vermont Well Water FAQs
Related Pages
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.
Quick Reference
State program
VT Certified Labs ↗EPA guidance
EPA Private Wells Program ↗State lab directory
VT Certified Labs ↗Minimum Annual Tests
Plus state-specific contaminants listed above
Other State Guides