01The verdict: is Walpole water safe?
Walpole's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of C- (56/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 625 residents using groundwater (wells).
1,4-Dioxane is over its legal limit
Measured at 3.10 µg/L against the EPA Health Advisory of 0.35 µg/L. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.
See the measurement ↓625 people, 2 systems
All figures on this page come from federal EPA compliance and testing data for the systems serving this city.
See the systems ↓24 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Walpole's drinking water received a grade of C- (56 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 625 residents using groundwater.
Lead data is not currently available for this system. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 96 violations on record, including 4 health-based violations. 17 remain unresolved.
Walpole ranks #76 out of 90 cities in Vermont for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state. Walpole relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) was detected at 0.20 µg/L in UCMR 3 testing. While below California's 10 µg/L limit and with no federal MCL set, residents sensitive to this contaminant may consider reverse osmosis filtration. As a small community water system, Walpole may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 24 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Walpole's water
Every contaminant flagged in Walpole, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
No contaminant data available for this city.
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Vermont
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Vermont
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Walpole's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 96 violations on record, including 4 health-based violations. 17 remain unresolved.
4 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
04Where Walpole's water comes from
Walpole's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
2 systems
2 water systems, operated under local government ownership.
625 people
Residents served across Walpole's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 625 people through 2 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| N WALPOLE VILLAGE DISTRICT/LOW | NH2401020 | 625 | Groundwater |
| N WALPOLE VILLAGE DIST/HIGH | NH2401030 | 125 | Groundwater |
Water bodies near Walpole
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Walpole's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
10 federal disaster declarations on record for Windham County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Walpole compares
Scores for nearby Vermont cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Vermont average (84/100)
Walpole scores 56/100 — below the Vermont average of 84/100. It outscores 1 of 10 nearby cities. Full Vermont rankings →
84.6 / 100BSouth Burlington, VT
84.9 / 100AEssex, VT
95 / 100ARutland City, VT
91.8 / 100FBennington, VT
44.9 / 100ABarre City, VT
92.2 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Walpole's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Walpole's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Walpole alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Walpole, VT tap water safe to drink?
Walpole's water quality earned a grade of C- (56/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #76 out of 90 cities tested in Vermont.
What contaminants are in Walpole's water?
96 violations are on record.
How is Walpole's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Walpole?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Walpole's water come from?
Walpole's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 2 water systems serving approximately 625 residents.
What health violations has Walpole's water system had?
Walpole has 4 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in April 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 17 violations remain unresolved.
Is Walpole's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Walpole uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 96 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Walpole's water compare to other cities?
Walpole ranks #76 out of 90 cities in Vermont (better than 16% of state cities) and #12278 out of 15382 cities nationally (20th percentile). The grade of C- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.