Is Virginia Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Water quality data for 22 cities across Virginia. Find your city below.
Water quality in Virginia varies significantly from city to city. Across 22 cities we track, hardness ranges from 20 PPM in Virginia Beach to 110 PPM in Harrisonburg, with a statewide average of 51 PPM. Most cities in Virginia have relatively soft water, so a softener is generally unnecessary.
6 Virginia cities have forever chemicals (PFAS) above the EPA's 2024 limit of 4 parts per trillion: Stafford (11.23 ppt), Roanoke (30.42 ppt), Norfolk (14.6 ppt), Danville (9.1 ppt), Roanoke South (30.42 ppt), and 1 more. A reverse osmosis system or NSF P473-certified filter can reduce PFAS to safe levels.
Complete Virginia Guide
Statewide water quality overview, costs, and treatment recommendations.
Well Water in Virginia
Testing, treatment, and common issues for private wells.
Hardest Water Rankings
Virginia cities ranked by water hardness level.
City Comparisons
Harrisonburg vs Virginia Beach
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Harrisonburg vs Herndon
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Herndon vs Stafford
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Virginia Cities by Water Hardness
| City | Hardness (PPM) | Level | PFAS (ppt) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg | 110 | Moderately Hard | 0 | North River & Dry River |
| Herndon | 110 | Moderately Hard | 12.5 | Potomac River (Fairfax Water) |
| Stafford | 100 | Moderately Hard | 11.23 | Aquia Creek + Potomac |
| Lynchburg | 99 | Moderately Hard | 0 | Pedlar Reservoir |
| Roanoke | 74 | Moderately Hard | 30.42 | Carvins Cove Reservoir, Spring Hollow Re… |
| Richmond | 70 | Moderately Hard | 0 | James River |
| Williamsburg | 70 | Moderately Hard | 3.07 | Waller Mill Reservoir |
| Norfolk | 53 | Slightly Hard | 14.6 | Lake Gaston, local reservoirs |
| Richmond Downtown | 45 | Slightly Hard | 0 | James River |
| Manassas | 42 | Slightly Hard | 30.75 | Broad Run & Bull Run |
| Alexandria | 39 | Slightly Hard | 12.13 | Potomac River |
| Arlington | 38 | Slightly Hard | 7.15 | Potomac River |
| Charlottesville | 35 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Sugar Hollow & South Fork Rivanna Re… |
| Staunton | 35 | Slightly Hard | 0 | North River |
| Danville | 30 | Slightly Hard | 9.1 | Dan River |
| Roanoke South | 30 | Slightly Hard | 30.42 | Carvins Cove Reservoir |
| Hampton | 28 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Lee Hall Reservoir, Newport News system |
| Chesapeake | 25 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Northwest River & Lake Gaston |
| Blacksburg | 25 | Slightly Hard | 0 | North Fork Roanoke River |
| Newport News | 24 | Slightly Hard | 23.82 | King William Reservoir system |
| Suffolk | 22 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Lake Prince & Western Branch Reservo |
| Virginia Beach | 20 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Lake Gaston, Norfolk system |