Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in Norfolk, VA tap water
15 contaminants were measured in the Norfolk, VA water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 15
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Service area
- VA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound above EPA limits in Norfolk, VA
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.4×)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Norfolk, VA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 25 sources.
Source
- WELL NO. · 4
- NAVY WELL NO · 2
- NOTTOWAY RIVER · 2
- STUMPY LAKE · 2
- + 13 more
Treatment
- KRISTEN M. LENTZ WTP
- MOORES BRIDGES WTP
Distribution
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 3.3 mg/LAverageNorfolk's Average Level | None set | Approaching the limit |
+By source (2)— Norfolk's Measured, Norfolk's Average Level
| |||
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine Free | 2.7 mg/LAverageNorfolk's Average Level | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Norfolk's Measured, Norfolk's Average Level
| |||
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 40 ug/LRunning annual avgNorfolk's Highest Quarterly Locational | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 26 ug/LRunning annual avgNorfolk's Highest Quarterly Locational | None set | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.5 mg/LAverageNorfolk's Average Level | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Norfolk's Measured, Norfolk's Average Level
| |||
| Cyanide | 0.011 mg/LAverageNorfolk's Average Level | 0.2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Norfolk's Measured, Norfolk's Average Level
| |||
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.12 mg/LAverageNorfolk's Average Level | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Norfolk's Measured, Norfolk's Average Level
| |||
Physical & aggregate
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.1 mg/L90th percentileNorfolk's Results1 | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.03 mg/LAverageNorfolk's Average Level | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Norfolk's Measured, Norfolk's Average Level
| |||
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.0 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | None detected |
People also ask about Norfolk, VA's water
+Is Norfolk, VA tap water safe to drink in 2023?
Every one of the 15 contaminants measured in Norfolk, VA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in Norfolk, VA tap water?
15 contaminants were measured in Norfolk, VA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning inorganic chemicals, metals, and pfas ("forever chemicals"). 6 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Are any contaminants in Norfolk, VA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Chloramine. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Norfolk, VA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Norfolk, VA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.