The MISSION of the Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division is to protect human health and the environment for this and future generations by managing Vermont’s drinking water supplies; protecting the quality and quantity of Vermont’s groundwater resources; and regulating wastewater disposal activities that could adversely affect groundwater. The Division accomplishes this mission through its outreach, education, assistance and regulatory activities.
The Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division’s (DWGPD) main office is in the National Life Building in Montpelier. There are also staff located in five regional offices that regulate Wastewater Systems and Potable Water Supplies.
Regulatory programs managed by the Division include, but are not limited to:
- Public Drinking Water Supply (water) – Public Community, Non-Transient Non-Community, Transient Non-Community, and Bulk and Bottled Water.
- Groundwater Reclassification (water) – Groundwater Class I and Class II.
- Groundwater Withdrawal (water) – Reporting and Permitting
- Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply (regional offices) – Potable (non-public) Water and Wastewater.
- Indirect Discharge (wastewater) – regulates large wastewater systems.
- Underground Injection Control (wastewater) – regulates discharges to groundwater.
Groundwater Management efforts are addressed within two rules and an over-arching Strategy: The Groundwater Withdrawal Reporting and Permitting Rule, Groundwater Protection Rule and Strategy, and the Groundwater Management Plan (2018). For more information go to the Groundwater Management Page.
The Division also provides input to Act 250 and Act 248 projects under criteria 1, 2, 3, and 9.
The Division also certifies/licenses:
The above programs all have compliance and enforcement components, as well as permit issuance responsibilities. The Division, along with State-approved regional and national organizations, provides technical assistance and educational opportunities to water system operators and site designers. The Division supports and/or co-sponsors training opportunities that enhance the technical abilities of our regulated communities, as well as our own staff. Within these pages, you will find the rules and regulations under which each program regulates activities, applicable applications, forms, guidance, practices, procedures, information about the training opportunities for the individuals we license, lists of those individuals, and other related links.
The Division maintains several databases where the public can search for:
- Public Drinking Water Documents
- Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Permits/ Documents
- Well Completion Reports
- Groundwater Interference
- Source Protection Areas
- Groundwater Class I, II, and IV areas
IN THE EVENT OF A PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM EMERGENCY
- Contact the Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division: Phone: 802-828-1535 (during business hours 7:45am - 4:30pm weekdays)
- DWGPD Staff Directory
- Emergency Preparedness and Security
Boil Water Procedure (Signed April 2024)
Boil-Water Notice Template (non-MCL)
Do Not Drink Policy (Signed April 2024)
Hand delivery of the notice to every user as soon as a situation arises is often the best method, but other options such as Front Porch Forum, Facebook, E-mail, website posting, press releases and enrollment of the water system and its users in the VT-Alert system may all be used in conjunction with direct delivery to ensure every user is informed in a timely manner. No matter what method or methods are used, the system needs to be confident that the notice has reach all users of the system.
It is the responsibility of the water system to make sure that all users are aware of what is going on with their water system and that their health is being protected in the response of actual or potential system contamination.
Bulk Water Hauling Procedure (Signed April 2024)
For additional templates go to our Forms and Application page
Contacting the DWGPD
Please go to the Regional Offices Program page to find a map for our regional offices. The map will link to information about the Montpelier, Essex Junction, Rutland, Springfield, and St. Johnsbury offices. Our main office is in Montpelier.
To submit large documents to the division: FTP data upload instructions and FTP document ID form. Be sure to contact Tom Harrington at tom.harrington@vermont.gov so the file can be retrieved.
Note: Our FTP site has recently changed. Please review the FTP data upload instructions to access the new server for FTP submissions.
If you wish to contact DWGPD staff, call the numbers as listed or send an email to staff. You may also contact us by leaving a message on our main line: 802-828-1535. Montpelier office fax number is 802-828-1541.
If you wish to meet with staff at the National Life building please call ahead to arrange a time, so staff can greet you in the lobby. All visitors are required to sign in and obtain a visitor's badge.