Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in VIRGINIA BEACH CITY, Virginia
Tap water in VIRGINIA BEACH CITY, Virginia receives a grade of D (65/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by VIRGINIA BEACH, CITY OF. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; 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 VIRGINIA BEACH CITY's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving VIRGINIA BEACH CITY.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane 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 42.3 ppb, 705x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 27.9 ppb, 279x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 40.4 ppb, 269x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for VIRGINIA BEACH, CITY OF (system ID VA3810900) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
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 VIRGINIA BEACH CITY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in VIRGINIA BEACH CITY's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
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 VIRGINIA BEACH 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 |
42.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 705× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
27.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 279× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
40.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 269× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.35 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 139× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.8 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 128× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
2.15 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 108× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
30.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 75× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.7 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 74× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.86 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0709 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)* PFAS |
0.725 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 2.4× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
330.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
0.148 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.1× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite* Inorganic |
0.145 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.0× over |
| Atrazine* Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.019 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
30.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
14.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.878 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.271 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)* PFAS |
0.638 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)* PFAS |
0.463 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0774 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide* Inorganic |
5.25 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.616 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 VIRGINIA BEACH, CITY OF.