Portsmouth, VA Water Safety: 88/100 (2026)
8 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Drinking water tracked for Portsmouth by VA authorities posts above-average scores — the majority of systems are free from health-based exceedances and the city's grade sits above the state median.
How Portsmouth Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Portsmouth, VA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Portsmouth score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Portsmouth Water
- Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 82% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,320 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.51 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Portsmouth
Federal drinking water records identify 4 systems in Portsmouth, VA. The leading 3 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations — so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Portsmouth, Virginia (population ~97,246), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 217,063 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Portsmouth — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Portsmouth: A (88/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Portsmouth water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 8 ZIP codes
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23701 | B | PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF | 97,915 |
| 23702 | A | PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF | 97,915 |
| 23703 | B | PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF | 97,915 |
| 23704 | B | Naval Support Activity Portsmouth | 17,000 |
| 23705 | A | Naval Support Activity Portsmouth | 17,000 |
| 23707 | B | PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF | 97,915 |
| 23708 | A | PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF | 97,915 |
| 23709 | A | Naval Support Activity Portsmouth | 17,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Portsmouth
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
Health Outcomes in Portsmouth
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Housing & Infrastructure in Portsmouth
With 82% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Portsmouth is predominantly an older city — a median build year of 1951 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Portsmouth were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Portsmouth Homeowners
Remediation costs in Portsmouth are small relative to typical property values — the cost-to-value ratio here is favorable.
Remediation costs in Portsmouth are relatively low compared to home values. The $880–$1,940 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 30% below the Virginia average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Portsmouth
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Practically, the structural drivers in Portsmouth — 82% pre-rule stock and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory benchmark — make an in-home draw the practical way to translate aggregate averages into the specific conditions at one address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Portsmouth
Across the multi-decade NFIP program, Portsmouth has logged 1732 filed flood claims — a tally that corresponds with 63% of local ZIP codes carrying FEMA flood zone designations. For water quality, the implications extend beyond property damage: when flooding reaches the magnitude this area's record implies, water supply systems face compounding stress. Treatment plants handling contaminated floodwater intake face sharply elevated contaminant loads. Private wells in low-lying FEMA zones are vulnerable to surface infiltration during each major event. Distribution networks can experience pressure-inversion backflow, drawing untreated water back into the supply. These are not remote possibilities at this exposure level.
Portsmouth has a significant flood history with 1,732 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $12,094 per claim. With 63% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,320</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Portsmouth, VA