Water System Report VA

Western Virginia Water Authority

EPA ID: VA2770900 ยท 182,700 people served ยท 30 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Western Virginia Water Authority (VA2770900): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Five clean years on EPA record - Western Virginia Water Authority, 182,700 residents served.

Data: EPA SDWIS

D ยท 49
Avg Safety Score
182,700
People Served
30
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$238K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Western Virginia Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$65,774
Median Household Income
322,204
Service Area Population
26%
Disadvantaged Population
52th
Poverty Percentile
55th
Energy Burden Percentile
60%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Western Virginia Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $65,774 and an estimated 322,204 residents across its service area. Approximately 60% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Western Virginia Water Authority'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
38th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
15th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

52 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
22 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 70% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 83 detections recorded. 32 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.012 ppt, PFOS: 0.012 ppt, PFBS: 0.14 ppt, HFPO-DA: 0.08 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Virginia

Pwcsa - East
168,747 people
C 0 violations
0 violations
City of Alexandria
159,200 people
D 0 violations
Arlington County
215,000 people
B 0 violations
Pwcsa - West
136,409 people
B 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Lead Pipe Replacement
Flood Insurance $1,343
Radon Mitigation $547
PFAS Treatment $370
Lead Pipe Replacement $148
Total Estimated Cost $2,408

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:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,408 (one-time) vs. $330 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

Western Virginia Water Authority (EPA ID: VA2770900) is a community water system in Virginia that serves approximately 182,700 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 30 ZIP codes across 21 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (49/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 3 of 30 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by VA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Western Virginia Water Authority (VA2770900) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Western Virginia Water Authority water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Western Virginia Water Authority in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Western Virginia Water Authority serve?

Western Virginia Water Authority serves approximately 182,700 people across 30 ZIP codes in Virginia.

Where does Western Virginia Water Authority get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
1102
Detections
10
Latest sample
3/28/2024
Highest analyte
PFOA: 8.9 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 8.9 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFOS 6.3 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFPeA 6.2 ppt โ€” โ€”
HFPO-DA 6 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFHxA 4.3 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Western Virginia Water Authority safe to drink?
Western Virginia Water Authority has a D safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Western Virginia Water Authority meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Western Virginia Water Authority serve?
Western Virginia Water Authority serves approximately 182,700 people with drinking water across 30 ZIP codes.
What is Western Virginia Water Authority's water source?
Western Virginia Water Authority draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Western Virginia Water Authority's service area?
The Western Virginia Water Authority service area has a median household income of $65,774. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Western Virginia Water Authority get its water?
Western Virginia Water Authority'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.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Western Virginia Water Authority, VA: Serves 183K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/va2770900/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-va2770900,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Western Virginia Water Authority, VA: Serves 183K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/va2770900/}
}

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 โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Western Virginia Water Authority (EPA ID: VA2770900) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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