Water System Report VA

City of Virginia Beach

EPA ID: VA3810900 · 437,994 people served · 23 ZIP codes

Zero EPA violations over five years — City of Virginia Beach has kept tap water compliance clean for its full service population of 437,994.

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

A · 89
Avg Safety Score
437,994
People Served
23
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
0
Contaminants Flagged
$332K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Virginia Beach Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$89,007
Median Household Income
555,764
Service Area Population
8%
Disadvantaged Population
31th
Poverty Percentile
41th
Energy Burden Percentile
57%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Virginia Beach serves a community with a median household income of $89,007 and an estimated 555,764 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

City of Virginia Beach'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
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
62th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Chesapeake city, Virginia rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 62th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

45 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
23 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 66% 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. 3 detections recorded. 1 exceeds 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Virginia

City of Newport News
407,300 people
B 2 violations
C 5 violations
C 1 violation
A 4 violations
City of Norfolk
234,220 people
A 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,400
PFAS Treatment $40
Total Estimated Cost $1,440

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 $1,440 (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

City of Virginia Beach, (EPA ID: VA3810900) is a community water system in Virginia that serves approximately 437,994 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 23 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: A (89/100)

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

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
23450 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23451 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23452 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23453 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23454 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23455 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23456 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23457 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23458 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23459 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23461 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23462 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23463 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23464 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23465 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23466 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23467 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23471 0.001 mg/L No N/A
23479 0.001 mg/L No N/A

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 Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 13 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 10 additional ZIPs 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 Virginia Beach (VA3810900) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Virginia Beach water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, City of Virginia Beach has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does City of Virginia Beach serve?

City of Virginia Beach serves approximately 437,994 people across 23 ZIP codes in Virginia.

Where does City of Virginia Beach get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
(757) 385-1400
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Contact information from Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Surface water
Drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Disinfectant used
Chloramines
Treatment chemicals reported
chloramine

Source: Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities Consumer Confidence Report:
A source water assessment of our system was conducted by the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) to determine the susceptibility to contamination of the surface water from which our drinking water originates. In Hampton Roads, all surface water sources were determined to be of high susceptibility to contamination using the criteria developed by the state.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chloramine

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

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
116

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 →

Aesthetic water quality

These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.

pH
7.7
How acidic or basic the water is on a 0-14 scale. Drinking water is typically near neutral.
EPA secondary range: 6.5 – 8.5
Fluoride
0.3 ppm
Utility adds fluoride
Measured fluoride concentration in parts per million.
EPA secondary MCL: 2.0 ppm
Alkalinity
35 ppm CaCO₃
Capacity of the water to neutralize acids, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalent.
Total dissolved solids
117 ppm
Mineral content remaining after evaporation, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other dissolved substances.
EPA secondary MCL: 500 ppm

Aesthetic measurements from Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.

Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Virginia Beach safe to drink?
City of Virginia Beach earns a A safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Virginia Beach meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Virginia Beach serve?
City of Virginia Beach serves approximately 437,994 people with drinking water across 23 ZIP codes.
What is City of Virginia Beach's water source?
City of Virginia Beach draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Virginia Beach's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.001 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Virginia Beach's service area?
The City of Virginia Beach service area has a median household income of $89,007. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Virginia Beach get its water?
City of Virginia Beach'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.
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