Monitoring Issues SCHOOL DISTRICT

Henrico County Public Schools Water Quality (VA) - A

17 ZIP codes · 13 water systems · 4,676,738 people served · Updated 2026-07-23

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for Henrico County Public Schools: 7 unresolved violations in the water systems serving this district.

Data: EPA SDWIS, NCES Last verified: 2026-07-23

A · 89
Avg Safety Score
17
ZIP Codes
13
Water Systems
45
Violations (5yr)
0.002 mg/L
Avg Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink 2–4× more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Water Quality Overview

The Henrico County Public Schools in Virginia spans 17 ZIP codes served by 13 community water systems, providing water to approximately 4,676,738 people.

The average Home Safety Score across the district is A (89/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 81/100 .

Water quality in this district ranks better than 89% of ZIP codes nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average lead level (90th percentile) 0.002 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.0036 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP codes exceeding EPA action level 0 of 17 -

EPA Violation History

45 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 21 No 9
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 13 No 7
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 4 No 2
Total Coliform Microbiological 2 No 1
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 2 No 2
Arsenic Inorganic 1 No 1
Total Organic Carbon Disinfection Byproducts 1 No 1
Gross Beta Radionuclides 1 No 1

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low risk)

Water Quality by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Safety Score Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
23030 Charles City A (91) 6 0 0.00077 mg/L No
23222 Richmond A (86) 5 0 0.00359 mg/L No
23223 Richmond B (81) 5 0 0.00359 mg/L No
23226 Richmond B (81) 5 0 0.00359 mg/L No
23227 Richmond A (86) 5 0 0.00359 mg/L No
23230 Richmond A (86) 5 0 0.00359 mg/L No
23250 Richmond A (95) 5 0 0.00359 mg/L No
23059 Glen Allen A (93) 4 0 0.0034 mg/L No
23060 Glen Allen A (88) 4 0 0.0034 mg/L No
23150 Sandston A (95) 1 0 0.00086 mg/L No
23075 Henrico A (95) 0 0 0.000653 mg/L No
23228 Henrico A (85) 0 0 0.000653 mg/L No
23229 Henrico A (85) 0 0 0.000653 mg/L No
23231 Henrico A (90) 0 0 0.000653 mg/L No
23233 Henrico A (95) 0 0 0.000653 mg/L No
23238 Henrico A (90) 0 0 0.000653 mg/L No
23294 Henrico A (95) 0 0 0.000653 mg/L No

Water Systems Serving This District

Water System Population Served Source ZIP Codes
Henrico County Water System 330,000 Surface water 23059, 23060, 23075 +12 more
City of Richmond, 229,395 Surface water 23222, 23223, 23226 +4 more
HANOVER SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEM 57,931 Surface water 23059
Eastern Goochland Central Water System 5,805 Surface water 23233, 23238
Founders Bridge 980 Surface water 23222, 23223, 23226 +3 more
Tilmans Farm 437 Groundwater 23222, 23223, 23226 +3 more
Wayside Area 368 Groundwater 23030
Cedar Crest 338 Groundwater 23222, 23223, 23226 +3 more

13 water systems total serve this district.

Lead Risk Assessment

Lead risk: ELEVATED. 8 ZIP codes in this district have high lead exposure risk scores based on housing age and infrastructure.

Infrastructure Risk Factors

Risk Factor District Average Why It Matters
Housing built before 1986 59.6% Lead solder was used in plumbing until 1986
Housing built before 1950 15.7% Lead pipes were common before 1950
Lead service line probability 17.3% Estimated chance of lead pipes connecting homes to water mains
Average lead level (90th pctl) 0.002 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L
Highest measured lead level 0.0036 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L

Schools built before 1986 are especially at risk. Lead can leach from older pipes, fixtures, and solder joints into drinking water — particularly when water sits in pipes overnight or over weekends.

Detailed Violation History

Contaminant Category Total Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 21 No 9
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 13 No 7
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 4 No 2
Total Coliform Microbiological 2 No 1
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 2 No 2
Arsenic Inorganic 1 No 1
Gross Beta Radionuclides 1 No 1
Total Organic Carbon Disinfection Byproducts 1 No 1

Most Recent Violations

  • Violation in ZIP 23030 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 23030 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 23030 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 23030 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 23059 (Unknown date) — Unresolved

Is the Water Safe at Henrico County Public Schools Schools?

Several factors warrant attention for families in the Henrico County Public Schools area:

  • 59.6% of buildings in this district predate 1986, increasing the risk of lead in school plumbing.
  • 7 violations remain unresolved, meaning the issues have not been officially corrected.

Important context: EPA compliance data measures water quality at the utility level. Individual school buildings — especially older ones — may have additional risks from internal plumbing, lead fixtures, and stagnant water in pipes.

What Parents Should Do

Testing

  1. Request your school's water testing results. Under the EPA's 3Ts program, schools are encouraged to test drinking water. Ask the Henrico County Public Schools school board for the most recent results.
  2. Test your home water. If your home was built before 1986, lead may be present in your plumbing. Free or low-cost test kits are often available from your water utility.

Advocacy

  1. Attend school board meetings and ask about the district's water quality testing schedule and remediation plans.
  2. Request lead fixture replacement if your child's school was built before 1986 and hasn't upgraded its plumbing.
  3. Contact your water utility about the 7 unresolved violations in the district. Ask for a timeline for resolution.

Resources

ZIP Code Reports for This District

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  5. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Henrico County Public Schools schools?

Based on EPA data, water systems serving Henrico County Public Schools have no health-based violations in the past 5 years. However, school buildings with older plumbing may still have localized issues. Testing at the tap (not just at the treatment plant) is important.

Does Henrico County Public Schools test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Data Sources

Updated daily.

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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Henrico County Public Schools Water Quality (VA) - A. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/henrico-county-public-schools-va/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-schools-henrico-county-public-schools-va,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Henrico County Public Schools Water Quality (VA) - A}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/henrico-county-public-schools-va/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

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