Richmond, VA: 195 Violations — 88/100 (2026)
39 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Public water monitoring in Richmond shows a safety record well above the VA median — health-based violations are isolated exceptions rather than recurring patterns, the city's systems have stayed compliant across recent reporting cycles, and no cluster of recurring exceedances appears in any single service area.
How Richmond Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Richmond, VA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Richmond score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Richmond Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 195 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0036 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,484 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.78 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Richmond
Across Richmond, VA, residential water comes from 3 primary utilities rather than a single consolidated provider. Each system operates independently — managing its own distribution infrastructure, rate schedules, and EPA compliance filings. Federal records track 7 water systems in the area, with these top providers accounting for the majority of residential connections.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 39 ZIP codes in Richmond, Virginia (population ~404,093), covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 951,230 people region-wide.
39 of 39 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Richmond: 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
Richmond water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0036 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): 4 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 35 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 120 | 39 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 80 | 39 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23218 | A | 5 | 0 | City of Richmond, |
| 23219 | B | 5 | 0 | City of Richmond, |
| 23220 | A | 5 | 0 | City of Richmond, |
| 23221 | A | 5 | 0 | City of Richmond, |
| 23222 | A | 5 | 0 | City of Richmond, |
| 23223 | B | 5 | 0 | City of Richmond, |
| 23224 | B | 5 | 0 | City of Richmond, |
| 23225 | B | 5 | 0 | City of Richmond, |
| 23226 | B | 5 | 0 | City of Richmond, |
| 23227 | A | 5 | 0 | City of Richmond, |
All ZIP Codes in Richmond
- 23218 [A] — 5 violations
- 23219 [B] — 5 violations
- 23220 [A] — 5 violations
- 23221 [A] — 5 violations
- 23222 [A] — 5 violations
- 23223 [B] — 5 violations
- 23224 [B] — 5 violations
- 23225 [B] — 5 violations
- 23226 [B] — 5 violations
- 23227 [A] — 5 violations
- 23230 [A] — 5 violations
- 23232 [A] — 5 violations
- 23234 [A] — 5 violations
- 23235 [A] — 5 violations
- 23236 [C] — 5 violations
- 23237 [C] — 5 violations
- 23240 [C] — 5 violations
- 23241 [A] — 5 violations
- 23249 [A] — 5 violations
- 23250 [A] — 5 violations
- 23260 [A] — 5 violations
- 23261 [A] — 5 violations
- 23269 [A] — 5 violations
- 23274 [A] — 5 violations
- 23276 [A] — 5 violations
- 23278 [A] — 5 violations
- 23279 [A] — 5 violations
- 23282 [A] — 5 violations
- 23284 [A] — 5 violations
- 23285 [A] — 5 violations
- 23286 [A] — 5 violations
- 23289 [A] — 5 violations
- 23290 [A] — 5 violations
- 23291 [A] — 5 violations
- 23292 [A] — 5 violations
- 23293 [A] — 5 violations
- 23295 [A] — 5 violations
- 23297 [C] — 5 violations
- 23298 [A] — 5 violations
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 Richmond
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
Top Contaminants in Richmond Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Richmond Homeowners
In Richmond, property wealth outpaces what documented remediation typically demands — the equity burden lands well within the low tier.
Remediation costs in Richmond are relatively low compared to home values. The $979–$2,200 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 2% below the Virginia average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Richmond
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.
Lead risk in Richmond appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Richmond
Richmond's flood profile — 744 NFIP claims over the program's multi-decade period and 46% of ZIP codes within FEMA-designated flood zones — reflects a community where flooding has shaped the local risk landscape in sustained ways. That sustained exposure has specific consequences for water quality that don't apply to lower-exposure areas. Treatment facilities handling intake from flood-saturated watersheds face contaminant loads that can exceed normal filtration capacity. Private wells in FEMA-designated zones face surface infiltration risk during every significant event. Distribution systems in areas that flood repeatedly accumulate backflow stress over time. None of these represent constant threats to water quality, but they are activated by the kinds of events that the NFIP record shows have occurred here, repeatedly, over many years.
Richmond has a significant flood history with 744 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $12,241 per claim. With 46% 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>$1,484</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 Richmond, VA