Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
ALEXANDRIA, CITY OF
ALEXANDRIA, CITY OF delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 159,200 residents in ALEXANDRIA CITY, Virginia using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 804-446-9822.
Is ALEXANDRIA CITY tap water safe to drink?
ALEXANDRIA, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 159,200 residents in ALEXANDRIA CITY, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Chloroform, Dibromoacetic acid, Nitrate*, Nitrate and nitrite*, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)*, Chromium (hexavalent), 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) *, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)*, Chlorate. 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.
Quick actions for ALEXANDRIA CITY residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for ALEXANDRIA, CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)*, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)* detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 16.0 ppb, 266x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 19.0 ppb, 126x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 11.3 ppb, 113x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact ALEXANDRIA, CITY OF
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for ALEXANDRIA CITY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 55/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
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 |
16.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 266× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
19.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 126× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
11.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 113× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.28 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 88× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.63 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.04 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 30× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
10.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.608 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
1.12 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.0× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite* Inorganic |
1.12 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.0× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)* PFAS |
0.417 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 4.6× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.09 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.5× over |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) * Other |
3.17 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.2× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)* PFAS |
0.392 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 1.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
235.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.1× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.02 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.16 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
31.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
10.2 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.288 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.94 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.325 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.4 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.146 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.05 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0313 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)* PFAS |
0.8 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.875 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)* PFAS |
0.325 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.15 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
17.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.674 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite* Inorganic |
0.000957 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | 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.
ALEXANDRIA, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in County, Virginia. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for ALEXANDRIA CITY water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.