Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

PFAS has been a subject of much news coverage here in Vermont over the past several years. PFAS substances were used historically in the making of Teflon, wire coatings, non-stick fabrics, and are associated with firefighting foam.  PFAS has been identified as a soil and groundwater contaminant at specific industrial sites in Vermont where it was historically used. Therefore, groundwater wells used as a drinking water source in these specific industrial use areas have been identified as being at risk.

Facts About the Champlain Water District

Champlain Water District wants to inform our customers of the following facts:

• Champlain Water District’s surface water source is from the deep underwater canyon of Shelburne Bay, at 75 feet of depth and a half-mile from shore. CWD made this investment in our protected deep-water intake to be well beyond potential sources of contamination.
• The testing of CWD’s finished water shows that PFAS compounds were not detected in CWD’s drinking water.
• CWD’s “Excellence in Water Treatment” award winning water supply has been monitored quarterly for PFAS beginning in May of 2014 and three times per year to date, and will continue this testing even though the CWD source is not considered at risk.
• Champlain Water District serves the following twelve municipal water systems:
  • Colchester Fire District 1
  • Colchester Fire District 3
  • Colchester Town
  • Essex Junction
  • Essex Town
  • Malletts Bay Water Company
  • Milton
  • Shelburne
  • South Burlington
  • Village of Jericho
  • Williston
  • Winooski