Water Quality in Virginia
1,062 water systems • 286 cities • EPA SDWIS Data
1,062
Water Systems
15,298
Total Violations
2,604
Health-Based Violations
7,437,928
Population Served
Overview
Virginia ranks 32nd among all U.S. states for total drinking water violations, out of 51 states tracked. The state has 15,298 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record across 1,062 water systems serving 286 cities. Of those, 2,604 are health-based violations, meaning a regulated contaminant was measured above the EPA-established safe level. Virginia's total violation count is 57% below the national average. Water systems in Virginia serve approximately 7,437,928 people. The most frequently cited contaminants in Virginia violations include Disinfection Byproducts, Chlorine, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Gross Alpha.
Cities with Most Violations in Virginia
| # | City | Violations | Health-Based | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pearisburg | 715 | 10 | 12 | 5,350 |
| 2 | Hopewell | 480 | 0 | 30 | 300,680 |
| 3 | Narrows | 340 | 0 | 1 | 2,029 |
| 4 | Lovingston | 289 | 68 | 5 | 10,290 |
| 5 | Luray | 281 | 4 | 5 | 5,300 |
| 6 | Rescue | 279 | 277 | 1 | 203 |
| 7 | Rockville | 273 | 27 | 165 | 72,337 |
| 8 | Prince George | 273 | 1 | 6 | 11,045 |
| 9 | Augusta | 267 | 10 | 4 | 321 |
| 10 | Sugar Grove | 231 | 1 | 1 | 1,276 |
Largest Cities in Virginia
| # | City | Population | Violations | Water Systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herndon | 1,146,214 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Virginia Beach | 458,124 | 9 | 5 |
| 3 | Newport News | 407,829 | 8 | 4 |
| 4 | Chesterfield | 390,359 | 18 | 3 |
| 5 | Ashburn | 334,808 | 4 | 1 |
| 6 | Henrico | 330,000 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Woodbridge | 307,271 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | Hopewell | 300,680 | 480 | 30 |
| 9 | Norfolk | 298,051 | 8 | 5 |
| 10 | Richmond | 231,577 | 85 | 9 |
All Cities in Virginia
| City | Population | Violations | Health Violations | Contaminants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herndon | 1,146,214 | 0 | 0 | |
| Virginia Beach | 458,124 | 9 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Newport News | 407,829 | 8 | 0 | |
| Chesterfield | 390,359 | 18 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Ashburn | 334,808 | 4 | 0 | |
| Henrico | 330,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Woodbridge | 307,271 | 0 | 0 | |
| Hopewell | 300,680 | 480 | 0 | |
| Norfolk | 298,051 | 8 | 0 | |
| Richmond | 231,577 | 85 | 4 | Chlorine, Contaminant 2920 |
| Arlington | 216,490 | 30 | 0 | |
| Chesapeake | 197,894 | 230 | 0 | |
| Roanoke | 194,650 | 204 | 23 | Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Disinfection Byproducts +3 more |
| Suffolk | 169,154 | 103 | 4 | Chlorine Dioxide, E. coli |
| Charlottesville | 139,776 | 99 | 2 | Chlorine, E. coli |
| Fredericksburg | 124,942 | 44 | 2 | Chlorine |
| Stafford | 123,734 | 9 | 0 | |
| Lynchburg | 105,929 | 55 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Williamsburg | 76,624 | 27 | 0 | |
| Harrisonburg | 75,537 | 12 | 0 | |
| Winchester | 74,805 | 22 | 0 | |
| Rockville | 72,337 | 273 | 27 | Barium, Chlorine, Disinfection Byproducts +2 more |
| Leesburg | 68,566 | 12 | 2 | Chlorine |
| Hanover | 58,615 | 0 | 0 | |
| Abingdon | 47,937 | 20 | 6 | Fecal Coliform, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Danville | 43,095 | 47 | 14 | TTHM |
| Manassas | 42,834 | 13 | 0 | |
| Petersburg | 42,291 | 16 | 1 | E. coli |
| Bedford | 39,864 | 18 | 10 | Disinfection Byproducts, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Verona | 39,583 | 3 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Fort Belvoir | 39,303 | 3 | 0 | |
| Christiansburg | 36,003 | 165 | 10 | Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Disinfection Byproducts +2 more |
| Blacksburg | 34,578 | 0 | 0 | |
| Warrenton | 30,324 | 126 | 7 | Chlorine, Disinfection Byproducts, Total Organic Carbon |
| Vienna | 30,000 | 2 | 0 | |
| Collinsville | 29,900 | 1 | 1 | TTHM |
| Mcincr | 27,689 | 48 | 17 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Staunton | 25,750 | 1 | 0 | |
| Salem | 25,643 | 0 | 0 | |
| Culpeper | 23,516 | 11 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Waynesboro | 22,816 | 43 | 0 | |
| Wise | 21,319 | 16 | 11 | Chlorine, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Bristol | 20,150 | 11 | 0 | |
| Vansant | 19,949 | 47 | 36 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Pulaski | 19,799 | 182 | 74 | Chlorine, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Radford | 19,142 | 16 | 0 | |
| Colonial Heights | 18,273 | 0 | 0 | |
| Front Royal | 17,885 | 100 | 6 | Chlorine, Gross Alpha |
| Marion | 17,045 | 36 | 0 | |
| Portsmouth | 17,000 | 1 | 0 | |
| Fort Eustis | 16,900 | 2 | 0 | |
| New Kent | 16,092 | 22 | 0 | |
| Lebanon | 15,772 | 101 | 4 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Clintwood | 15,755 | 80 | 57 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| North Tazewell | 15,381 | 148 | 1 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Madison Heights | 14,869 | 17 | 2 | Chlorine, Disinfection Byproducts |
| Emporia | 14,784 | 90 | 89 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Madison | 14,732 | 135 | 69 | Chlorine, E. coli, Fecal Coliform +1 more |
| Covington | 14,652 | 207 | 4 | Chlorine |
| Manassas Park | 14,051 | 2 | 0 | |
| Wytheville | 13,870 | 28 | 18 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Lexington | 13,834 | 2 | 0 | |
| Martinsville | 13,700 | 89 | 4 | Chlorine, TTHM |
| Hillsville | 12,995 | 37 | 0 | |
| Weber City | 12,966 | 59 | 9 | Chlorine, Fecal Coliform, TTHM +1 more |
| King George | 12,656 | 230 | 15 | Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Disinfection Byproducts +2 more |
| Lawrenceville | 11,763 | 117 | 90 | Chlorine, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Chatham | 11,277 | 78 | 29 | Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli, TTHM +2 more |
| Jonesville | 11,230 | 64 | 8 | Chlorine, E. coli, Fecal Coliform +1 more |
| Dahlgren | 11,145 | 52 | 0 | |
| Isle of Wight | 11,135 | 9 | 1 | E. coli |
| Prince George | 11,045 | 273 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Hampton | 10,886 | 4 | 0 | |
| Gloucester | 10,777 | 7 | 6 | TTHM |
| South Boston | 10,475 | 12 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts, TTHM |
| Lovingston | 10,290 | 289 | 68 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Woodstock | 10,124 | 74 | 59 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Louisa | 9,823 | 85 | 46 | Disinfection Byproducts, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) +1 more |
| Franklin | 9,570 | 38 | 0 | |
| Big Stone Gap | 9,372 | 2 | 0 | |
| Goochland | 9,057 | 19 | 0 | |
| Purcellville | 8,929 | 1 | 0 | |
| Smithfield | 8,791 | 191 | 155 | E. coli, Lead |
| Ruckersville | 8,500 | 57 | 2 | Chlorine |
| Farmville | 8,212 | 2 | 0 | |
| Strasburg | 7,410 | 10 | 8 | TTHM |
| Galax | 6,862 | 21 | 2 | E. coli |
| Dublin | 6,569 | 38 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Buena Vista | 6,566 | 8 | 0 | |
| Blackstone | 6,345 | 21 | 17 | Gross Alpha, TTHM |
| Bridgewater | 6,177 | 8 | 0 | |
| Rocky Mount | 6,058 | 5 | 0 | |
| Bluefield | 5,978 | 13 | 1 | Fecal Coliform |
| Berryville | 5,861 | 52 | 38 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Buckingham | 5,759 | 31 | 25 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Pennington Gap | 5,581 | 15 | 2 | E. coli |
| Ruther Glen | 5,499 | 6 | 0 | |
| Round Hill | 5,457 | 0 | 0 | |
| Colonial Beach | 5,426 | 9 | 1 | E. coli |
| Pearisburg | 5,350 | 715 | 10 | Chlorine Dioxide, E. coli |
| Luray | 5,300 | 281 | 4 | Chlorine, E. coli |
| Yorktown | 5,149 | 4 | 0 | |
| Orange | 5,022 | 5 | 0 | |
| Tazewell | 5,007 | 8 | 0 | |
| Coeburn | 4,630 | 1 | 0 | |
| Chilhowie | 4,625 | 2 | 0 | |
| South Hill | 4,600 | 4 | 3 | TTHM |
| Richlands | 4,564 | 5 | 1 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Bracey | 4,475 | 15 | 0 | |
| Timberville | 4,393 | 29 | 3 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Mount Jackson | 4,252 | 115 | 1 | E. coli |
| Stanley | 4,185 | 14 | 3 | E. coli |
| Broadway | 4,015 | 0 | 0 | |
| Norton | 3,958 | 0 | 0 | |
| Clifton Forge | 3,954 | 21 | 4 | Chlorine |
| Courtland | 3,899 | 13 | 6 | Lead |
| Altavista | 3,850 | 26 | 4 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Grottoes | 3,618 | 31 | 0 | |
| Waverly | 3,615 | 8 | 0 | |
| Warm Springs | 3,456 | 9 | 0 | |
| Chincoteague | 3,344 | 3 | 0 | |
| West Point | 3,153 | 5 | 0 | |
| Amelia | 3,100 | 1 | 0 | |
| Windsor | 3,083 | 9 | 1 | Gross Alpha |
| Lovettsville | 2,964 | 36 | 0 | |
| Edinburg | 2,946 | 65 | 3 | Chlorine, E. coli |
| Alexandria | 2,890 | 31 | 0 | |
| Gordonsville | 2,830 | 54 | 2 | Chlorine, Disinfection Byproducts |
| Appalachia | 2,745 | 0 | 0 | |
| Elkton | 2,595 | 1 | 0 | |
| Ft. Eustis | 2,510 | 0 | 0 | |
| Rural Retreat | 2,500 | 2 | 0 | |
| Gretna | 2,500 | 26 | 14 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Crewe | 2,465 | 26 | 6 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Vint Hill | 2,449 | 1 | 0 | |
| Stuart | 2,420 | 4 | 0 | |
| Tappahannock | 2,405 | 4 | 0 | |
| Shenandoah | 2,378 | 1 | 0 | |
| Independence | 2,352 | 25 | 0 | |
| Craigsville | 2,340 | 1 | 0 | |
| Stanardsville | 2,336 | 181 | 7 | Chlorine Dioxide, Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli |
| King William | 2,323 | 1 | 0 | |
| Floyd | 2,300 | 12 | 3 | Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli |
| New Market | 2,274 | 0 | 0 | |
| Honaker | 2,250 | 8 | 0 | |
| Chase City | 2,242 | 15 | 0 | |
| Hamilton | 2,240 | 8 | 0 | |
| Amherst | 2,231 | 59 | 7 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Saltville | 2,204 | 7 | 0 | |
| Montross | 2,180 | 6 | 0 | |
| Bremo Bluff | 2,175 | 38 | 0 | |
| Exmore | 2,067 | 49 | 0 | |
| Rappahannock Academy | 2,065 | 66 | 0 | |
| Hot Springs | 2,058 | 3 | 0 | |
| Gate City | 2,034 | 7 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Narrows | 2,029 | 340 | 0 | |
| Mitchells | 2,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Charlotte Courthouse | 1,975 | 11 | 0 | |
| Stephens City | 1,967 | 20 | 0 | |
| Dryden | 1,922 | 4 | 0 | |
| Warsaw | 1,920 | 4 | 0 | |
| Victoria | 1,900 | 1 | 1 | TTHM |
| Cumberland | 1,840 | 2 | 0 | |
| State Farm | 1,810 | 1 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Appomattox | 1,761 | 1 | 0 | |
| Dayton | 1,700 | 1 | 1 | Fecal Coliform |
| Onancock | 1,695 | 76 | 0 | |
| Troy | 1,650 | 2 | 0 | |
| Saluda | 1,628 | 4 | 0 | |
| Wallops Island | 1,625 | 24 | 24 | Chlorine Dioxide, TTHM |
| Bland | 1,615 | 26 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Remington | 1,597 | 10 | 0 | |
| Fincastle | 1,575 | 10 | 0 | |
| Kilmarnock | 1,569 | 12 | 0 | |
| Brookneal | 1,500 | 25 | 5 | Chlorine, TTHM |
| Cedar Bluff | 1,400 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kenbridge | 1,400 | 1 | 0 | |
| Clarksville | 1,400 | 49 | 3 | TTHM |
| Middletown | 1,390 | 1 | 0 | |
| Buchanan | 1,334 | 8 | 0 | |
| Hurt | 1,300 | 14 | 6 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Sugar Grove | 1,276 | 231 | 1 | Fecal Coliform |
| Farmington Hills | 1,250 | 0 | 0 | |
| New Castle | 1,238 | 11 | 3 | E. coli |
| Bowling Green | 1,233 | 40 | 30 | HAA5 |
| Pembroke | 1,167 | 30 | 3 | E. coli, Gross Alpha |
| Moneta | 1,146 | 71 | 5 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Wakefield | 1,116 | 2 | 0 | |
| Parksley | 1,109 | 16 | 0 | |
| Easvtille | 1,030 | 8 | 0 | |
| Hampden-Sydney | 1,027 | 5 | 0 | |
| St. Paul | 1,010 | 8 | 0 | |
| Quinby | 975 | 0 | 0 | |
| Rich Creek | 960 | 10 | 0 | |
| Banner Elk | 960 | 47 | 7 | Chlorine Dioxide, Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli |
| Urbanna | 924 | 4 | 0 | |
| Dilwyn | 890 | 11 | 0 | |
| Surry | 850 | 8 | 1 | Chlorine |
| La Crosse | 850 | 0 | 0 | |
| Keysville | 800 | 23 | 10 | TTHM |
| Montvale | 773 | 35 | 2 | Chlorine, Fecal Coliform |
| Ivor | 766 | 2 | 0 | |
| Woodberry Forest | 739 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quantico | 650 | 2 | 0 | |
| Charles City | 611 | 88 | 12 | Chlorine Dioxide, Disinfection Byproducts |
| Fort Monroe | 600 | 0 | 0 | |
| Irvington | 583 | 18 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Troutville | 577 | 33 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Cleveland | 563 | 145 | 0 | |
| Mcgaheysville | 560 | 2 | 2 | E. coli |
| Drakes Branch | 530 | 11 | 1 | E. coli |
| Mineral | 503 | 29 | 3 | Chlorine |
| Horntown | 495 | 2 | 0 | |
| Toano | 486 | 15 | 0 | |
| Fancy Gap | 485 | 16 | 0 | |
| Fries | 484 | 34 | 4 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Mckenney | 482 | 1 | 0 | |
| Burkeville | 482 | 30 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Ivy | 475 | 6 | 0 | |
| Kingsport | 470 | 2 | 0 | |
| Catawba | 444 | 0 | 0 | |
| Crimora | 440 | 5 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Boydton | 430 | 0 | 0 | |
| True | 428 | 0 | 0 | |
| Monterey | 415 | 2 | 0 | |
| Dungannon | 410 | 59 | 7 | Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide |
| Iron Gate | 408 | 0 | 0 | |
| Hartfield | 400 | 12 | 4 | Chlorine Dioxide |
| Tangier | 393 | 26 | 1 | E. coli |
| Claremont | 387 | 4 | 1 | Gross Alpha |
| Brodnax | 381 | 26 | 16 | TTHM |
| Goshen | 375 | 1 | 0 | |
| Lanexa | 375 | 27 | 3 | Chlorine |
| Scottsburg | 360 | 8 | 0 | |
| Lancaster | 352 | 13 | 0 | |
| Bluemont | 350 | 11 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Bristow | 350 | 2 | 0 | |
| Port Royal | 327 | 8 | 1 | Chlorine Dioxide |
| Augusta | 321 | 267 | 10 | E. coli, Gross Alpha |
| Charlotte | 314 | 41 | 2 | Chlorine Dioxide |
| Middleburg | 301 | 49 | 7 | HAA5, Total Organic Carbon |
| Laurel Fork | 300 | 13 | 0 | |
| Dillwyn | 292 | 6 | 0 | |
| St. George | 260 | 68 | 0 | |
| Buffalo Junction | 250 | 14 | 3 | Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide |
| Englewood | 240 | 17 | 1 | E. coli |
| Mt. Jackson | 235 | 133 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Stuarts Draft | 227 | 10 | 0 | |
| Boones Mill | 227 | 7 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Mouth of Wilson | 225 | 108 | 0 | |
| Ashland | 225 | 7 | 0 | |
| Eastville | 224 | 13 | 0 | |
| Troutdale | 220 | 23 | 0 | |
| Hatrfield | 206 | 0 | 0 | |
| Phenix | 206 | 10 | 4 | HAA5, Total Organic Carbon |
| Rescue | 203 | 279 | 277 | Lead |
| Pamplin City | 200 | 4 | 0 | |
| Durham | 200 | 5 | 0 | |
| Washington | 198 | 10 | 6 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Glen Lyn | 193 | 24 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Providence Forge | 189 | 8 | 0 | |
| Calabasas | 189 | 15 | 1 | TTHM |
| Glen Allen | 181 | 17 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Heathsville | 175 | 16 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Haynesville | 175 | 0 | 0 | |
| Capron | 163 | 15 | 1 | E. coli |
| Bassett | 161 | 12 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Ripplemead | 160 | 22 | 2 | E. coli, Fecal Coliform |
| Tasley | 152 | 1 | 0 | |
| Shacklefords | 150 | 6 | 0 | |
| Locust Hill | 150 | 0 | 0 | |
| Rapidan | 150 | 55 | 2 | Chlorine |
| Sarasota | 146 | 68 | 5 | Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide |
| Keswick | 145 | 40 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Mathews | 143 | 12 | 5 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Linden | 140 | 4 | 0 | |
| Hardy | 123 | 7 | 0 | |
| Spencer | 120 | 10 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Bentonville | 111 | 10 | 0 | |
| Lignum | 110 | 1 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Eldersburg | 110 | 16 | 0 | |
| Wicomico Church | 102 | 21 | 0 | |
| Walkerton | 100 | 17 | 0 | |
| Meadows of Dan | 100 | 8 | 0 | |
| Mechanicsville | 100 | 10 | 0 | |
| Rixeyville | 100 | 2 | 1 | Chlorine |
Water Quality in Other States
Alabama 13,972 violations Alaska 73,527 violations Arizona 60,414 violations Arkansas 17,031 violations California 39,276 violations Colorado 42,596 violations Connecticut 28,800 violations Delaware 1,242 violations District of Columbia 115 violations Florida 36,335 violations Georgia 32,159 violations Hawaii 182 violations Idaho 26,078 violations Illinois 30,544 violations Indiana 18,261 violations Iowa 9,389 violations Kansas 19,480 violations Kentucky 9,427 violations Louisiana 32,039 violations Maine 6,830 violations Maryland 5,321 violations Massachusetts 10,561 violations Michigan 15,820 violations Minnesota 3,784 violations Mississippi 25,296 violations Missouri 25,377 violations Montana 20,202 violations Nebraska 5,134 violations Nevada 8,167 violations New Hampshire 6,968 violations New Jersey 19,332 violations New Mexico 37,115 violations New York 93,834 violations North Carolina 54,399 violations North Dakota 8,431 violations Ohio 61,604 violations Oklahoma 128,472 violations Oregon 0 violations Pennsylvania 199,265 violations Rhode Island 0 violations South Carolina 13,045 violations South Dakota 19,565 violations Tennessee 20,607 violations Texas 263,180 violations Utah 71,655 violations Vermont 12,362 violations Washington 54,459 violations West Virginia 81,622 violations Wisconsin 18,533 violations Wyoming 13,783 violations
Data Sources
Drinking water data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Only active community water systems (CWS) serving 100+ people are included.