City of Portsmouth
EPA ID: VA3740600 · 97,915 people served · 9 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for City of Portsmouth (VA3740600): 2 unresolved EPA violations on record. In the current EPA monitoring period, City of Portsmouth has 2 violations still listed as unresolved, with the utility supplying water to approximately 97,915 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Portsmouth Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The City of Portsmouth serves a community with a median household income of $69,597 and an estimated 212,996 residents across its service area. Approximately 67% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 35% 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?
City of Portsmouth'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.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 83th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How City of Portsmouth compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Virginia
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
City of Portsmouth, (EPA ID: VA3740600) is a community water system in Virginia that serves approximately 97,915 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 9 ZIP codes across 3 communities.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 0 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 2 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
| October 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
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 3 (Low Risk)
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — 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.
- 23321 - Chesapeake
- 23323 - Chesapeake
- 23435 - Suffolk
- 23701 - Portsmouth
- 23702 - Portsmouth
- 23703 - Portsmouth
- 23704 - Portsmouth
- 23707 - Portsmouth
- 23708 - Portsmouth
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Portsmouth (VA3740600) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Portsmouth water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 2 current noncompliance records and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.
How many people does City of Portsmouth serve?
City of Portsmouth serves approximately 97,915 people across 9 ZIP codes in Virginia.
Where does City of Portsmouth 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.
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 →
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
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). City of Portsmouth (VA): 2 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/va3740600/
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title = {{City of Portsmouth (VA): 2 EPA Violations}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/va3740600/}
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What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
City of Portsmouth (EPA ID: VA3740600) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.