Town of Amherst
PWSID: VA5009050
This system has no unresolved violations. The most recent violation on record was 2024-08-01.
This system has more violations on record than 96% of water systems in Virginia.
Violation trend: 1.6 per year over the last 5 years, down from 10.0 per year in the previous 5.
System Details
| Population Served | 2,231 |
| Service Connections | 1,170 |
| Water Source | Surface Water |
| System Type | Community Water System |
| Owner | Local Government |
| Status | Active |
| City | Amherst |
| EPA ZIP on File | 24521 |
Lead & Copper Testing
| Contaminant | Level | EPA Action Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0515 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Exceeds Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0460 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Exceeds Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0459 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Exceeds Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0308 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Exceeds Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0114 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0073 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0014 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0007 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0006 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
Violation History (59 total)
| Contaminant | Violation | Date | Health-Based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0999 | MR | 2024-08-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 0999 | MR | 2024-08-01 | Major | Acknowledged |
| 0999 | MR | 2024-08-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 8000 | MON | 2023-03-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 8000 | MON | 2023-03-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 0999 | MR | 2023-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 0999 | MR | 2023-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 0999 | MR | 2023-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 5000 | MR | 2018-07-01 | Returned to Compliance | |
| 2456 | MCL Measured: 0.0730 MG/L (limit: 0.0600 MG/L) | 2018-04-01 | Yes | Returned to Compliance |
| 2456 | MCL Measured: 0.0760 MG/L (limit: 0.0600 MG/L) | 2018-01-01 | Yes | Returned to Compliance |
| 1038 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1005 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1010 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1015 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1020 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1028 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1032 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1035 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1036 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1052 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1074 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1075 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1085 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1095 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1045 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1017 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1025 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1055 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1905 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1910 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1920 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 1930 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2378 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2380 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2955 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2964 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2968 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2969 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2976 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2977 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2979 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2980 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2981 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2982 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2983 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2984 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2985 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2987 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
| 2989 | MR | 2018-01-01 | Major | Returned to Compliance |
Showing 50 of 59 historical violations.
Understanding This Water System's Record
Town of Amherst is a community water system water system that draws from surface water sources and serves a population of 2,231 in Amherst, Virginia. This page shows its complete compliance history as reported to the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), the federal database that tracks every public water system in the United States.
What Do These Violations Mean?
Health-based violations mean the system exceeded an EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) or failed to provide required treatment. These indicate potential health risks from contaminants like lead, arsenic, bacteria, nitrates, or disinfection byproducts. Non-health-based violations involve monitoring, reporting, or procedural requirements — the system missed a testing deadline or failed to notify customers, but contaminant levels were not necessarily unsafe.
What Should You Do?
Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) that details test results and any violations. If your system has active health-based violations, consider a certified water filter rated for the specific contaminants involved. The contaminant guides on this site explain health risks and filter options for common pollutants. For the most current results, contact your water utility directly — EPA data can lag weeks or months behind real-time testing.