VERMONT’S PRIVATE WELL PROGRAM- UPDATES FROM SAFEWATCH

Since 2015, the Vermont Department of Health has engaged in numerous activities to increase the reach of the private drinking water program. This program serves the roughly 40% of Vermonters who drink private water. There are currently no testing requirements for private water, and testing is the responsibility of the homeowner.

This presentation will cover outreach strategies employed by the Department of Health to engage Vermonters to test well water, including assessments of which strategies were most successful. Current knowledge of geographical contaminants in Vermont will also be discussed, including arsenic, and nitrate. Finally, the process by which the Department evaluates unregulated contaminants in private water will be presented.