Water System Report VA

Pwcsa - West

EPA ID: VA6153251 ยท 136,409 people served ยท 10 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Pwcsa - West (VA6153251): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Compared to the national average for mid-size utilities, Pwcsa - West sits well above the baseline - five years of EPA monitoring show no violations, no MCL exceedances, and no enforcement actions for the full service territory of 136,409 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 83
Avg Safety Score
136,409
People Served
10
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$623K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Pwcsa - West Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$158,759
Median Household Income
271,405
Service Area Population
15%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
37%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Pwcsa - West serves a community with a median household income of $158,759 and an estimated 271,405 residents across its service area.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Pwcsa - West'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
10th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

34 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
34 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 50% 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. 23 detections recorded. 2 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

Stafford County Utilities
123,684 people
D 0 violations
City of Alexandria
159,200 people
D 0 violations
0 violations
Pwcsa - East
168,747 people
C 0 violations
City of Portsmouth
97,915 people
2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,260
Radon Mitigation $480
PFAS Treatment $410
Total Estimated Cost $2,150

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 $2,150 (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

Pwcsa - West (EPA ID: VA6153251) is a community water system in Virginia that serves approximately 136,409 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 10 ZIP codes across 7 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (83/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 6 of 10 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 2 (Moderate 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 Pwcsa - West (VA6153251) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pwcsa - West water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Pwcsa - West 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 Pwcsa - West serve?

Pwcsa - West serves approximately 136,409 people across 10 ZIP codes in Virginia.

Where does Pwcsa - West 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
232
Detections
2
Latest sample
8/6/2024
Highest analyte
PFPeA: 5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFPeA 5 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 3.6 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 Pwcsa - West safe to drink?
Pwcsa - West earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Pwcsa - West meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Pwcsa - West serve?
Pwcsa - West serves approximately 136,409 people with drinking water across 10 ZIP codes.
What is Pwcsa - West's water source?
Pwcsa - West draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Pwcsa - West's service area?
The Pwcsa - West service area has a median household income of $158,759. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Pwcsa - West get its water?
Pwcsa - West'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.). Pwcsa - West, VA: Serves 136K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/va6153251/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-va6153251,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Pwcsa - West, VA: Serves 136K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/va6153251/}
}
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