Is Richmond tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Richmond's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

82/100

Purity Score

Issues Found

2.2 GPG

Hardness

Not detected

PFAS

2 Issues Detected in Richmond

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Richmond

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Richmond

Fix Your Water — See Recommended Filters

Virginia

232,182,321,923,220 · James River

Drinking Water in Richmond: 2026 Analysis

Low Risk Updated March 2026 225,000 residents

See Best Filters for Richmond

Purity Score

This report analyzes Richmond's tap water across five key indicators: PFAS, lead, hardness, chlorine, and TDS. Each section links to deeper data and filter options suited to VA water conditions.

Water Quality Data

Not detected (4.2 ppb)

Hard water in Richmond

Chlorine

Medium

Affects taste and skin. Carbon filter removes it.

Learn about chlorine

TDS

Unknown

High TDS (>500 ppm) may affect taste.

Contaminant Levels

PFAS

Lead

4.2 ppb

Nitrate

0.5 mg/L

Arsenic

0.2 mg/L

Hardness

2.2 gpg

Health Insights

1
Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Richmond's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

82 /100

Good

"Good" threshold (70)

Richmond tap water is sourced from James River and treated by Richmond Department of Public Utilities. Overall purity score: 82/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Richmond's 2 issues.

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MATCHED TO RICHMOND'S WATER DATA

Best Water Filters for Richmond, VA (2026)

Matched to Moderate Chlorine in Richmond.

Moderate Chlorine

Best Overall #1 for Richmond

Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Pitcher Filter

$80-95

Why this fits Richmond

Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Richmond's water
NSF/ANSI 42 + NSF/ANSI 53 + NSF/ANSI 401 certified
Budget-friendly at $80-95

Pros & Cons +

No installation fill and pour

Removes 365+ contaminants including PFAS

Small capacity 2-3 people

Filter replacements every 4 months

Fix Your Water — Check Price

Best Value

Waterdrop 10UA Under-Sink Filter

Under-Sink Carbon Filter

$40-60

Why this fits Richmond

Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Richmond's water
NSF/ANSI 42 certified
Budget-friendly at $40-60

Pros & Cons +

Very affordable

Easy DIY install no plumber

Does not remove PFAS or hardness

Single point of use only

Check Price on Amazon

Best for Taste

Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO

Tankless Reverse Osmosis

$380-450

Why this fits Richmond

Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Richmond's water
NSF/ANSI 58 + NSF 372 certified
Premium quality at $380-450

Pros & Cons +

No tank saves cabinet space

800 GPD fast flow rate

Higher upfront cost

Filter replacements are proprietary

Check Price on Amazon

Also Recommended

APEC Water Systems ROES-50

Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis

$195-220

Why this fits Richmond

Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Richmond's water
NSF/ANSI 58 certified

Pros & Cons +

5-stage filtration removes 99%+ of contaminants

Long-lasting filters (6-12 month replacement)

Requires under-sink installation

Wastes some water during filtration

Check Price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap may earn from qualifying purchases. Based on latest Richmond water data.

Full Filter Comparison for Richmond

Know exactly what's in YOUR tap

City data shows averages. Your home may differ.

Test Your Water — $25-30

Explore Richmond Water Data

Richmond Water FAQ

Is Richmond VA tap water safe to drink in 2026?

Richmond tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 82/100 (Good) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.

Does Richmond VA use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?

Richmond 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 Richmond VA water and what is the TDS level?

Richmond water hardness is 2.2 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 72 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.

Has PFAS been found in Richmond VA drinking water?

Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Richmond drinking water.

What is the best water filter for Richmond?

Based on Richmond's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Richmond has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

Nearby Reports

Virginia BeachVirginia — 67/100 NorfolkVirginia — 67/100 AlexandriaVirginia — 67/100 ChesapeakeVirginia — 82/100 Newport NewsVirginia — 82/100 HamptonVirginia — 82/100

All Virginia cities

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Compare across all 50 US states

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Data Sources

EPA SDWIS
EWG Tap Water Database
Richmond Department of Public Utilities CCR
USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

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