Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
ARLINGTON COUNTY
ARLINGTON COUNTY delivers tap water graded D (63/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 215,000 residents in ARLINGTON, 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; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 703-228-3647.
Is ARLINGTON tap water safe to drink?
ARLINGTON COUNTY delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (63/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including haloacetic acids (haa9) significantly above health guideline.
The utility serves 215,000 residents in ARLINGTON, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Bromochloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Arsenic*, Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate*, Radium, combined (-226 and -228)*, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromoacetic acid, 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 ARLINGTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for ARLINGTON COUNTY.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 42.7 ppb, 711x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 34.8 ppb, 348x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 50.8 ppb, 339x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.109 ppb.
Contact ARLINGTON COUNTY
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Recommended water filters for ARLINGTON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 63/100 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 |
42.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 711× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
34.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 348× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
50.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 339× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
11.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 195× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
16.8 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 168× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.24 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 162× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
36.4 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 91× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
16.2 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 81× over |
| Arsenic* Heavy metal |
0.109 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 27× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.72 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
1.09 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 7.8× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.38 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 7.6× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0918 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.6× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0958 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.2× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
282.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Atrazine* Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0279 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate* Disinfection byproduct |
0.249 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Tritium* Other |
83.7 pCi/L | 400.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
39.2 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
36.4 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Simazine* Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.00458 ppb | 0.1 | 4.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.65 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.391 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform* Disinfection byproduct |
0.00857 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.4 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.853 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.109 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D* Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0348 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.5 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.1 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.193 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dalapon* Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.104 ppb | — | 200.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Diethyl phthalate* Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.188 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.657 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium* Other |
1.76 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Metolachlor* Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0175 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Uranium* Radiological |
0.0 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 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.
ARLINGTON COUNTY service area
This water system serves 1 community in Arlington County, Virginia. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for ARLINGTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.