Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in PORTSMOUTH CITY, Virginia
Tap water in PORTSMOUTH CITY, Virginia receives a grade of D (66/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in PORTSMOUTH CITY's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving PORTSMOUTH CITY.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 35.5 ppb, 592x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 26.2 ppb, 262x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 36.3 ppb, 242x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF (system ID VA3740600) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 07/01/2025 | Open |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/01/2024 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for PORTSMOUTH CITY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in PORTSMOUTH CITY's water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in PORTSMOUTH CITY's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
35.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 592× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
26.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 262× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
36.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 242× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 173× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 142× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
23.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
11.3 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 57× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.73 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.358 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.445 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
411.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.0× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.186 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.68 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
26.3 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.42 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
10.9 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.207 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.307 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.00236 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0449 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.807 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF.