COUNTY REPORT VA

Portsmouth County, Virginia

8 ZIP codes · Avg score 88/100 · Grade A · Updated 2026-06-04

Portsmouth County maintains reliable drinking water quality across all 8 of its tracked ZIP codes.

How Portsmouth County Compares

Portsmouth County88/100
Virginia avg66/100
National avg68/100

How Portsmouth County Compares

A
County Grade
88/100
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
4
Water Systems

Portsmouth County scores 22 points above the Virginia state average (66/100) and 20 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04

A
County Grade
88
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 23705 (99/100)
Lowest ZIP: 23707 (80/100)
$219K
Median Home Value
$1,320
Avg Remediation (60% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Portsmouth County, Virginia

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 14.5 (asthma 12.3%, diabetes 15.8%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $5,446, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.397% avg pipe failure probability, 33% of ZIPs at high risk

82% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 12.3% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 15.8% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.8% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1955
Median Build Year
82%
Pre-1978 Housing
40%
Pipe Failure Probability
33%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $5,446

Sea Level Rise $3,000/yr
Flood $1,750/yr
Energy Code Gap $473/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

43,096 housing units in Portsmouth County

Pre-1940 12%
1940–1959 30%
1960–1979 29%
1980–1999 19%
2000+ 10%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Portsmouth County

$219K
Median Home Value
$1,320
Est. Remediation Cost
0.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Portsmouth County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Portsmouth County residents

Asthma 12.3% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 15.8% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.8% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 4 systems in Portsmouth County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF 97,915 0
2 Naval Support Activity Portsmouth 17,000 0
3 City of Suffolk, 69,822 0
4 City of Chesapeake - Western Branch Sys 32,326 0

All ZIP Codes in Portsmouth County

8 ZIP codes tracked in Portsmouth County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 23705 Portsmouth 99 A 0
2 23708 Portsmouth 99 A 0
3 23709 Portsmouth 99 A 0
4 23702 Portsmouth 85 A 0 $189K
5 23701 Portsmouth 80 B 0 $219K
6 23703 Portsmouth 80 B 0 $274K
7 23704 Portsmouth 80 B 0 $197K
8 23707 Portsmouth 80 B 0 $222K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Portsmouth County

If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.

Overview

Portsmouth County in Virginia covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of A (88/100).

No EPA violations recorded across any tracked ZIP codes in Portsmouth County.

← Back to Virginia water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Portsmouth County?
Portsmouth County receives a grade of A, indicating generally safe tap water across its 8 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Portsmouth County?
Portsmouth County is served by 4 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 8 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Portsmouth County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Portsmouth County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $5,446 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Portsmouth County?
The median home build year in Portsmouth County is 1955. 82% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Portsmouth County compare to Virginia?
Portsmouth County has an average water safety score of 88/100, which is above the Virginia state average of 66/100.

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