Is Virginia Beach tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Virginia Beach's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns including PFAS detected. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

67/100
Purity Score
3
Issues Found
2.6 GPG
Hardness
Detected
PFAS

3 Issues Detected in Virginia Beach

PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Detected

PFAS are man-made chemicals that do not break down and accumulate in the body.

PFAS details for Virginia Beach

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Virginia Beach

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Virginia Beach
Virginia

234,502,345,123,452 · Lake Gaston and local reservoirs

Is Virginia Beach Tap Water Safe? PFAS Testing Results

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 450,000 residents
67
Purity Score

PFAS compounds have been identified in Virginia Beach's public water supply. This report covers detection levels, health context, and the filtration options best suited to Virginia Beach residents.

Health Insights

  • 1
    PFAS have been identified in Virginia Beach's water at 2.5 parts per trillion. A reverse osmosis system is the most reliable home treatment.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Virginia Beach's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

67 /100
Moderate
"Good" threshold (70)

Virginia Beach tap water is sourced from Lake Gaston and local reservoirs and treated by Virginia Beach Dept of Public Utilities. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected. Overall purity score: 67/100 (Moderate). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Virginia Beach's 3 issues.

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About Virginia Beach's Water

PFAS Water Contamination: What Virginia Beach Residents Should Know

PFAS have been detected in Virginia Beach's water supply at 2.5 parts per trillion. Health agencies including the EPA have set limits on certain PFAS compounds in drinking water due to concerns about long-term exposure. While municipal treatment reduces many contaminants, standard water treatment does not fully remove PFAS. Point-of-use reverse osmosis filtration is the most effective home solution confirmed to remove PFAS at the 99%+ level.

Explore Virginia Beach Water Data

Virginia Beach Water FAQ

Is Virginia Beach VA tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Virginia Beach tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 67/100 (Moderate) on PurityMap for 2026. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected at 2.5 ppt. An NSF-certified filter is strongly recommended. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Virginia Beach VA use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Virginia Beach uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.4 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Virginia Beach VA water and what is the TDS level?
Virginia Beach water hardness is 2.6 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 88 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Virginia Beach VA drinking water?
Yes. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected in Virginia Beach water at approximately 2.5 ppt according to EPA UCMR5 monitoring data. A reverse osmosis or NSF P473-certified filter is the most effective residential solution.

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Virginia Beach Dept of Public Utilities CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

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