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Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026

ACSA URBAN AREA

Serving 77,408 residents in CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia .

National rank 79th percentile
Virginia rank 62th percentile
Data confidence Medium
Quick answer

ACSA URBAN AREA delivers tap water graded B (78/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 77,408 residents in CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 434-977-4511.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?
77,408
People served
1
City served
15
Contaminants detected
10
Above health guidelines

Is CHARLOTTESVILLE tap water safe to drink?

ACSA URBAN AREA delivers tap water that earns a grade of B (78/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a good rating, with only minor concerns relative to health-based guidelines.

The utility serves 77,408 residents in CHARLOTTESVILLE, drawing from surface water (purchased).

Public testing data identifies 10 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.

EPA compliance record

Official U.S. EPA records for ACSA URBAN AREA (system ID VA2003053) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.

No EPA violations in the last 3 years.
0 of 12quarters with a violation
Nolead above EPA action level
05/14/2024last state inspection

Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.

Top concerns in this water

Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for ACSA URBAN AREA.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 17.3 ppb, 289x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 16.9 ppb, 169x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 24.7 ppb, 165x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Contact ACSA URBAN AREA

Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.

Recommended water filters for CHARLOTTESVILLE

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)

$180-$599

Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.

Aquasana AQ-5300 Under-Sink Filter
$180-$240 NSF 42, 53, 401, 372
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, 372
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.

Score breakdown

This utility's overall score of 78/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →

Health Guideline Performance
21 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
20 / 20
Compliance History
10 / 10
Source Water Vulnerability
7 / 10

Contaminants detected — international standards comparison

Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →

Contaminant Detected EWG
US health-based
EPA
US legal
EU DWD
Europe
WHO
global
CA PHG
strictest US
Tested
sample year
Status
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
17.3 ppb 0.06 — — — — — 289× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
16.9 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 — — — 169× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
24.7 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 — — — 165× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
7.61 ppb 0.1 — — — — — 76× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
4.14 ppb 0.06 — — — — — 69× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
20.0 ppb 0.4 — — — — — 50× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
8.68 ppb 0.2 — — — — — 43× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.494 ppb 0.02 — — — — — 25× over
Dibromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.605 ppb 0.03 — — — — — 20× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
0.429 ppb 0.1 — — — — — 4.3× over
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
102.4 ppb 210.0 — — — — — Below guideline
Bromoform
Disinfection byproduct
0.0748 ppb 0.5 — — — — — Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
0.55 ppb 21.0 — — — — — Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
0.295 ppb 100.0 — 50 80 — — Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.0369 ppb 1500.0 — — — — — Below guideline

All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.

Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.

ACSA URBAN AREA service area

This water system serves 1 community in Albemarle County, Virginia. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.

About this water system

Public Water System ID
VA2003053
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water (purchased)
Service connections
18,488
Service area
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Albemarle County, Virginia