Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS

Serving 165,240 residents in CHESAPEAKE CITY, Virginia .

National rank 78th percentile
Virginia rank 52th percentile
Data confidence Medium
Quick answer

CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS delivers tap water graded C (67/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 165,240 residents in CHESAPEAKE CITY, Virginia using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: 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 757-382-6352.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?
165,240
People served
1
City served
21
Contaminants detected
12
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)

Is CHESAPEAKE CITY tap water safe to drink?

CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.

The utility serves 165,240 residents in CHESAPEAKE CITY, drawing from surface water.

Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chromium (hexavalent), 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.

Top concerns in this water

Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 21.0 ppb, 351x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 27.0 ppb, 180x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 16.4 ppb, 164x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Contact CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS

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

Recommended water filters for CHESAPEAKE CITY

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

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 67/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →

Health Guideline Performance
10 / 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
21.0 ppb 0.06 351× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
27.0 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 180× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
16.4 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 164× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
6.64 ppb 0.06 111× over
Dibromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
1.9 ppb 0.03 63× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
4.99 ppb 0.1 50× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
18.1 ppb 0.4 45× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
8.29 ppb 0.2 41× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
1.9 ppb 0.1 19× over
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
Radiological
0.2 pCi/L 0.05 5.0 4.0× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.0506 ppb 0.02 2.5× over
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
502.5 ppb 210.0 2.4× over
Nitrate and nitrite
Inorganic
0.0967 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 Below guideline
Bromoform
Disinfection byproduct
0.0368 ppb 0.5 Below guideline
Molybdenum
Other
1.75 ppb 40.0 Below guideline
Barium
Heavy metal
18.0 ppb 700.0 2000.0 1300 2000 Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
1.18 ppb 53.0 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
1.48 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Monobromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.0458 ppb 25.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.0446 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
Fluoride
Inorganic
0.741 ppm 4.0 1.5 1.5 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.

CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS service area

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

About this water system

Public Water System ID
VA3550051
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water
Service connections
56,976
Service area
CHESAPEAKE CITY, County, Virginia