Monitoring Violations VA

City of Buena Vista

EPA ID: VA2530125 · 6,566 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Water monitoring history for City of Buena Vista includes 2 violations, each addressed and closed — the system holds no active EPA enforcement today for its 6,566 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

D · 54
Avg Safety Score
6,566
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.00451 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
2
Contaminants Flagged
$166K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Buena Vista Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$53,816
Median Household Income
29,166
Service Area Population
42%
Disadvantaged Population
47th
Poverty Percentile
67th
Energy Burden Percentile
68%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Buena Vista serves a community with a median household income of $53,816 and an estimated 29,166 residents across its service area. Approximately 68% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 42% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

City of Buena Vista's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
37th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 0% of homes in Buena Vista city, Virginia rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

55 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
13 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 81% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Buena Vista compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Revised Total Coliform Rule at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Virginia

Dublin Town of
6,538 people
C 21 violations
Wise, Town of
6,375 people
0 violations
Blackstone, Town of
6,345 people
D 5 violations
City of Galax
6,837 people
B 8 violations
Ncsa - Wintergreen
6,861 people
C 26 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $1,600

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,600 (one-time) vs. $5,000 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

City of Buena Vista, (EPA ID: VA2530125) is a community water system in Virginia that serves approximately 6,566 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: D (54/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
August 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
24416 0.00451 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your 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.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Buena Vista (VA2530125) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Buena Vista water safe to drink?

City of Buena Vista has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does City of Buena Vista serve?

City of Buena Vista serves approximately 6,566 people across 3 ZIP codes in Virginia.

Where does City of Buena Vista get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
464

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
2,210
Unknown Material
430
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 6,566
Reported to Virginia

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Buena Vista safe to drink?
City of Buena Vista has a D safety grade based on 2 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in City of Buena Vista's water?
Detected contaminants include Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Revised Total Coliform Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 2 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does City of Buena Vista serve?
City of Buena Vista serves approximately 6,566 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is City of Buena Vista's water source?
City of Buena Vista draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Buena Vista's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00451 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Buena Vista's service area?
The City of Buena Vista service area has a median household income of $53,816. EPA EJScreen data classifies 42% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Buena Vista get its water?
City of Buena Vista's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

City of Buena Vista (EPA ID: VA2530125) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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