Town of Bristol, Vermont

Boil Water Notice Lifted: Maple, Pleasant and Church Streets

The boil water notice issued October 22 for Maple, Pleasant and Church Streets has been lifted.

New water samples collected on October 28 were tested by a certified lab and came back clean. Water on these streets is safe to drink, and no further precautions are needed.

You may still notice a little air or discoloration for a short time. Running a cold water tap for a few minutes usually clears it.

With this notice lifted, there are no boil water notices currently in effect for the Bristol West waterline project.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Greg Faust, Town Administrator, at TownAdmin@BristolVT.org or (802) 453-2410.

Thank you for your continued patience as we replace Bristol’s water infrastructure.

Boil Water Update: North Street and Lawrence Lane lifted. Maple, Pleasant, and Church remain in effect.

STILL IN EFFECT: MAPLE, PLEASANT AND CHURCH STREETS

The boil water notice issued October 22 for Maple, Pleasant and Church Streets remains in effect. One of the two water samples did not come back clear. New samples will be taken Wednesday, October 28, with results expected Thursday, October 29.

Until this notice is lifted, bring water to a rolling boil for one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, ice or brushing teeth.

LIFTED: NORTH STREET AND LAWRENCE LANE

The boil water notice issued October 26 for Lawrence Lane and for North Street from Pleasant Street to Church Street has been lifted. Both water samples came back clean, and water on those streets is safe to drink.

We will post here when the October 22 notice is lifted.

Please call Jill Marsano (VTUMS) at (802) 557-1295 with any questions.

Questions or concerns can also be directed to Greg Faust, Town Administrator, at TownAdmin@BristolVT.org or (802) 453-2410.

Thank you for your continued patience as we replace Bristol’s water infrastructure.

North Street and Lawrence Lane: Water Shutoff, Monday, October 26

On Monday, October 26, there will be a water shutoff that will impact services on North Street from Pleasant Street to Church Street and on Lawrence Lane while the Contractor and the assisting Water Department replace the valve at North Street and Pleasant Street. Additional areas may be added if the aging isolation valves do not function as we hope.

SHUT-OFF HOURS

Please anticipate this shutoff starting as early as 8 am and lasting until 5 pm.

HYDRANT FLUSHING

During the shutdown and when water is restored, we will have to flush air, water and sediment out of the hydrants along these runs. This should alleviate most of the air that enters the system.

AIR AND DISCOLORATION

You and your tenants may notice a bit of air and discoloration in the water once it is restored.

WHEN YOUR WATER COMES BACK

• Run your faucets on cold water until the air is released.
• You may also want to remove your faucet screen, rinse off any sediment and put it back on after flushing your sink.
• Avoid running white laundry during this short period of time.

BOIL WATER NOTICES

Any applicable Boil Water Notices are issued the day of the first shutoff. They are cleared several days later, once the shutoffs are complete and clean bacteria samples can be collected and received back from the lab.

BOTTLED WATER

Bottled water will be available at the Town office for those who need some during these interruptions.

IF YOU HAVE NO WATER

If you do not have water after service is restored each evening, please call the Town of Bristol at (802) 453-2410 x5 with your location.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Greg Faust, Town Administrator, at TownAdmin@BristolVT.org or (802) 453-2410.

Thank you for your continued patience as we replace Bristol’s water infrastructure.

On Monday, October 26, water will be shut off on North Street from Pleasant Street to Church Street and on Lawrence Lane while a valve at the North Street and Pleasant Street intersection is replaced.

BOIL WATER NOTICE

A boil water notice will be issued for these streets. Affected homes will receive a water interruption notice and a boil water notice at the door.

OCTOBER 22 NOTICE STILL IN EFFECT

This is separate from the October 22 boil water notice for Maple, Pleasant and Church Streets, which remains in effect.

WHEN THE NOTICES WILL BE LIFTED

Both notices are expected to be lifted by late Tuesday, once the final water quality testing is completed. We will post here when each notice is lifted.

WHAT TO DO UNTIL THEN

Bring water to a rolling boil for one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, ice or brushing teeth.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Greg Faust, Town Administrator, at TownAdmin@BristolVT.org or (802) 453-2410.

Thank you for your continued patience as we replace Bristol’s water infrastructure.

Water was turned back on Thursday afternoon, October 22, in the areas affected by the Maple Street and West Street work.

BOIL WATER NOTICE

The boil water notice for those streets will remain in effect until at least Tuesday, October 27, while the results of the final water quality testing required before the main goes into service come back.

This includes every home that received the October 22 boil water notice at the door, on Maple, Pleasant and Church Streets.

UNTIL THE NOTICE IS LIFTED

Bring water to a rolling boil for one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, ice or brushing teeth.

WHEN THE NOTICE IS LIFTED

We will post an update when the notice is lifted, and the Water Department will notify affected homes directly.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Greg Faust, Town Administrator, at TownAdmin@BristolVT.org or (802) 453-2410.

Thank you for your continued patience as we replace Bristol’s water infrastructure.

Maple Street and West Street: Boil Water Notice Remains in Effect

Water is being turned back on this afternoon in the areas affected by the Maple Street and West Street work.

The boil water notice for those streets will remain in effect until at least Tuesday, while the results of the final water quality testing required before the main goes into service come back.

WHAT TO DO UNTIL THE NOTICE IS LIFTED

Bring water to a rolling boil for one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, ice or brushing teeth.

WHEN THE NOTICE IS LIFTED

We will post here when the notice is lifted, and the Water Department will notify affected homes directly.

Thank you for your patience.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Greg Faust, Town Administrator, at TownAdmin@BristolVT.org or (802) 453-2410.

Bristol West Waterline Replacement: Traffic Changes for the October 22 Tie-In

On Thursday, October 22, the crew will connect the new water main on Maple Street to the existing main on West Street. The work requires the following traffic changes for the day.

WEST STREET

The westbound lane at Maple Street will be closed. Traffic will alternate in one lane, with flaggers and signs on site. Expect delays on West Street during the day.

MAPLE STREET

Closed to all but local residents from Church Street to West Street. Residents in that section will still have access to their homes.

WATER SHUTOFF

The water shutoff notice for October 22, posted October 15, still applies to the streets it lists. Residents affected by the boil water notice will receive a written reminder from the Water Department on their door or in their mailbox.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Greg Faust, Town Administrator, at TownAdmin@BristolVT.org or (802) 453-2410.

Thank you for your continued patience as we replace Bristol’s water infrastructure.

Boil Water Notice Lifted

The boil water notice issued for the October 15 water main tie-in on Pleasant Street and Maple Street has been lifted.

Water samples collected on October 15 were tested by a certified lab and came back clean. Water on the affected streets is safe to drink, and no further precautions are needed.

You may still notice a little air or discoloration for a short time. Running a cold water tap for a few minutes usually clears it.

Thank you for your patience during the Bristol West waterline work.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Greg Faust, Town Administrator, at TownAdmin@BristolVT.org or (802) 453-2410.

Water Interruption Notice

Please note there will be a water shut on Thursday, 10/22/26 that will impact services on Maple Street from Pine to West, Pleasant Street from North to West Pleasant, and Church Street, with additional areas added if the aging isolation valves do not function as we hope, while the Contractor and assisting Water Department work to tie in the new waterlines on the south end of Maple St.

SHUT-OFF HOURS

Please anticipate this shutoff starting as early as 8 am and lasting until 5 pm.

AIR AND DISCOLORATION

Please note, during the shutdown and when water is restored, we will have to flush air/water/sediment out of the hydrants along these runs. This should alleviate most of the air that enters the system. In addition, you and your tenants may notice a bit of air and discoloration in the water once restored.

WHEN YOUR WATER COMES BACK

• When water is restored, please run your faucets on cold water until the air is released.
• You may also want to remove your screen, rinse off any sediment, and place back on after flushing your sink and avoid running white laundry during this short period of time.

BOIL WATER NOTICES

Any applicable Boil Water Notices will be issued the day of the first shut off and cleared several days later once the shut offs are complete and clean bacteria samples can be collected and received back from the lab.

BOTTLED WATER

Bottled water will be available at the Town office for those that need some during these interruptions.

IF YOU HAVE NO WATER

If anyone does not have water after service is restored each evening, please call the Town of Bristol at 802-453-2410 x5 with your location.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Greg Faust, Town Administrator, at TownAdmin@BristolVT.org or (802) 453-2410.

Thank you for your continued patience as we replace Bristol’s water infrastructure.

Update, November 3, 2026: The workshop was held October 21. The video, transcript and a summary are below.

Bristol’s sewer plant was designed to handle 20,000 gallons per day, but it’s maxed out at about 8,000. That’s only 40% of its capacity. The pipes and tanks aren’t the problem. The limit is the amount of organic material coming into the system, measured as Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD).

If Bristol can cut BOD by around half, we’d free up a lot of capacity for downtown business growth and keep the system sustainable. If we can’t, we’ll need costly treatment upgrades, and every sewer customer would share that cost. Reducing BOD at its source is the most effective and least expensive fix.

RCAP Solutions is hosting a free community workshop to explain how it all works:

Wednesday, October 21, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Holley Hall, 1 South Street

Topics include:

• Why wastewater matters
• Wastewater basics
• Collection system 101
• How treatment works
• Inside Bristol’s sewer system
• Keeping the system healthy

VTM Engineering will also present the Main Street water line design for Bristol East.

Questions? Contact Joshua Lochhead at RCAP Solutions, (802) 461-6308 or jlochhead@rcapsolutions.org.

This workshop is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Meeting materials and summary

• Watch the video (Town of Bristol YouTube)
• Transcript and summary (PDF, 12 pages)
• The Bristol East water line presentation from the same evening has its own page: Bristol East Waterline Replacement (Phase 3)

Figures below are as the speakers stated them at the meeting. The video is the official record.

The system

Bristol’s downtown sewer was built in 1993 and runs entirely by gravity. It has 34 connections, homes and businesses, mostly along Main Street and South Street. Wastewater flows to a community septic tank on Basin Street and then to 8 leach fields.

The problem

The system is permitted for 20,000 gallons a day and receives about 8,000. The limit is not the amount of water. It is the organic load: food waste, solids, and fats, oils and grease, measured as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). That limit also holds back new connections downtown.

The system is not failing, but it is at the threshold. If it fails, the first problem would likely be leach field lines plugging with fat and solids, which would back wastewater up into the pipes and buildings. No timeline was given.

The goal

Cutting the organic load by about half at the source would largely save the system, and that is achievable. The alternative is costly treatment, with the cost shared by the 34 connections.

What you can do

• Scrape plates and pans into the trash before washing.
• Use sink strainers.
• Let grease cool, put it in a can and throw it away. Do not pour it down the drain.
• Do not run very hot water (over about 140°F) through a grease trap. It melts the grease and pushes it further into the system.
• Keep wipes, diapers, paint and chemicals out of drains.
• Sugary drinks and beer are high-strength waste. Keep them out of drains when you can.

Grease traps: who does what

• Outside (external) grease traps: the Town pumps them and bills the cost to the business owner. The property owner keeps the trap accessible and working.
• Inside (internal) grease traps: entirely the property owner’s responsibility. Pump about every three months, or when the trap is 25% full, and keep pumping records. The Town can ask to see them under the Core Area Sewer Ordinance.

What happens next

More assessment is planned with VTM Engineering, VTUMS (the Town’s wastewater operator) and RCAP Solutions. The workshop was the start of that process. Several business owners said they had never received information about grease trap requirements. VTUMS said the way this information is shared needs to change so it reaches people.

Questions: Greg Faust, Town Administrator, TownAdmin@BristolVT.org or (802) 453-2410.

RELATED MATERIALS
– Flyer
– Letter