Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
NORFOLK, CITY OF
NORFOLK, CITY OF delivers tap water graded C (68/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 234,220 residents in NORFOLK CITY, Virginia using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; 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 757-664-6701.
Is NORFOLK CITY tap water safe to drink?
NORFOLK, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (68/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 234,220 residents in NORFOLK CITY, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Bromochloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chromium (hexavalent), Chlorate, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite. 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 NORFOLK, CITY OF (system ID VA3710100) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim and Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 02/01/2024 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for NORFOLK 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 NORFOLK, 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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 32.3 ppb, 538x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 39.6 ppb, 264x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 25.3 ppb, 253x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact NORFOLK, 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 NORFOLK 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 68/100 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 |
32.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 538× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
39.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 264× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
25.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 253× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.45 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 141× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 122× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.15 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 108× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
29.7 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 74× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.7 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.63 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.725 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 2.4× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0456 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
328.8 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 |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.44 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.638 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0517 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.463 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0735 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
NORFOLK, 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 NORFOLK CITY water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.