City of Richmond,
EPA ID: VA4760100 · 229,395 people served · 45 ZIP codes
While corrective steps may be in progress, City of Richmond, currently shows 1 EPA violation unresolved — serving a population of approximately 229,395.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Richmond, Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade A
Service Area Demographics
The City of Richmond, serves a community with a median household income of $74,245 and an estimated 586,527 residents across its service area. Approximately 65% 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 Richmond,'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.
About 1% of homes in Chesterfield County, 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 68th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How City of Richmond, compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 10 detections recorded.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
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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
RICHMOND, CITY OF (EPA ID: VA4760100) is a community water system in Virginia that serves approximately 229,395 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 45 ZIP codes across 5 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: A (88/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 11, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 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 | 3 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23218 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23219 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23220 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23221 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23222 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23223 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23224 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23225 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23226 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23227 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23230 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23232 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23234 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23235 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23240 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23241 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23249 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23250 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23260 | 0.00359 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 23261 | 0.00359 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 FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 17 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 28 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.
This system serves 45 ZIP codes:
23112 · 23113 · 23114 · 23173 · 23218 23219 · 23220 · 23221 · 23222 · 23223 23224 · 23225 · 23226 · 23227 · 23230 23231 · 23232 · 23234 · 23235 · 23236 23237 · 23240 · 23241 · 23249 · 23250 23260 · 23261 · 23269 · 23274 · 23276 23278 · 23279 · 23282 · 23284 · 23285 23286 · 23289 · 23290 · 23291 · 23292 23293 · 23295 · 23297 · 23298 · 23831
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Richmond, (VA4760100) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Richmond, water safe to drink?
City of Richmond, has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does City of Richmond, serve?
City of Richmond, serves approximately 229,395 people across 45 ZIP codes in Virginia.
Where does City of Richmond, 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.
Contact information from City of Richmond 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: City of Richmond 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.
The Richmond Water Treatment Plant was determined to be of high susceptibility to contamination, using criteria developed by the state in its EPA-approved Source Water Assessment Program.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Richmond 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.
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 →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
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.
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
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 Richmond, (EPA ID: VA4760100) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.