School District Report SCHOOL DISTRICT

Water Quality at Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VA) - Clean Compliance

12 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · 4,825,234 people served · Updated 2026-07-23

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for Virginia Beach City Public Schools: no EPA drinking-water violations recorded in the past five years.

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

B · 84
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
7
Water Systems
0
Violations (5yr)
0.001 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 Virginia Beach City Public Schools in Virginia spans 12 ZIP codes served by 7 community water systems, providing water to approximately 4,825,234 people.

The average Home Safety Score across the district is B (84/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 75/100 .

Water quality in this district ranks better than 81% 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) 0.001 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.001 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP codes exceeding EPA action level 0 of 12 -

EPA Violation History

No EPA violations recorded across any water systems serving this school district in the past 5 years.

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low risk)

Water Quality by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Safety Score Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
23451 Virginia Beach B (75) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23452 Virginia Beach B (75) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23453 Virginia Beach B (80) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23454 Virginia Beach B (80) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23455 Virginia Beach B (80) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23456 Virginia Beach B (75) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23457 Virginia Beach A (85) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23459 Virginia Beach A (99) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23460 Virginia Beach A (99) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23461 Virginia Beach A (99) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23462 Virginia Beach A (85) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
23464 Virginia Beach B (80) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No

Water Systems Serving This District

Water System Population Served Source ZIP Codes
City of Virginia Beach, 437,994 Surface water 23451, 23452, 23453 +9 more
City of Norfolk, 234,220 Surface water 23455, 23462
City of Chesapeake - Northwest River Sys 165,240 Surface water 23464
Little Creek Amphibious Base - U.s. Navy 9,782 Surface water 23451, 23452, 23453 +9 more
N a S Oceana 7,300 Surface water 23451, 23452, 23453 +9 more
Dam Neck - U.s. Navy 3,000 Surface water 23451, 23452, 23453 +9 more
Riverview Mobile Estates 48 Groundwater 23451, 23452, 23453 +9 more

Lead Risk Assessment

Lead risk: MODERATE. Over 55.7% of housing in this district was built before 1986, when lead solder was commonly used in plumbing.

Infrastructure Risk Factors

Risk Factor District Average Why It Matters
Housing built before 1986 55.7% Lead solder was used in plumbing until 1986
Housing built before 1950 3.8% Lead pipes were common before 1950
Lead service line probability 17.1% Estimated chance of lead pipes connecting homes to water mains
Average lead level (90th pctl) 0.001 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L
Highest measured lead level 0.001 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.

Is the Water Safe at Virginia Beach City Public Schools Schools?

Several factors warrant attention for families in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools area:

  • 55.7% of buildings in this district predate 1986, increasing the risk of lead in school plumbing.

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 Virginia Beach City 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.

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 Virginia Beach City Public Schools schools?

Based on EPA data, water systems serving Virginia Beach City 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 Virginia Beach City 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.

Home → School Districts → Virginia → Virginia Beach City Public Schools

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Water Quality at Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VA) - Clean Compliance. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/virginia-beach-city-public-schools-va/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-schools-virginia-beach-city-public-schools-va,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Water Quality at Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VA) - Clean Compliance}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/virginia-beach-city-public-schools-va/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

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