Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
NEWPORT NEWS, CITY OF
NEWPORT NEWS, CITY OF delivers tap water graded C (73/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 407,300 residents in NEWPORT NEWS CITY, Virginia using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 757-926-1000.
Is NEWPORT NEWS CITY tap water safe to drink?
NEWPORT NEWS, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (73/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 407,300 residents in NEWPORT NEWS CITY, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Dibromochloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chromium (hexavalent). 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for NEWPORT NEWS, CITY OF (system ID VA3700500) 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.
Quick actions for NEWPORT NEWS 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 NEWPORT NEWS, CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 2.69 ppt, 2688x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 18.2 ppb, 303x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 11.8 ppb, 118x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact NEWPORT NEWS, 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 NEWPORT NEWS CITY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 73/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
2.69 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2688× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
18.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 303× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
11.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 118× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
12.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 80× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.15 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 53× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.09 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
8.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.9 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 6.3× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.557 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.6× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.27 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.3× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0948 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
139.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.0555 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0515 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
11.0 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
21.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.516 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| p-Dichlorobenzene Volatile organic compound |
0.117 ppb | 6.0 | 75.0 | 1 | 10 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.495 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.44 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.775 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.127 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.776 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.00165 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.
NEWPORT NEWS, 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 NEWPORT NEWS CITY water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.