Drinking water quality · 2025
· Verified
What's in City of Poquoson, VA tap water
44 contaminants were measured in the City of Poquoson, VA water system's 2025 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 7 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Contaminants measured
- 44
- Over federal limit
- 7
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- PFOS
- Service area
- VA
- PFOSPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Maximum4.9 ng/Llimit 2 ng/L · 2.5× the limit
- PFBAPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Range2.6–3.8 ng/Llimit 2 ng/L · 1.9× the limit
- Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Range0–3.7 ng/Llimit 2 ng/L · 1.9× the limit
- Perfluoropentanoic acidPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Maximum3.6 ng/Llimit 2 ng/L · 1.8× the limit
- Perfluorohexanoic acidPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Maximum3.5 ng/Llimit 2 ng/L · 1.8× the limit
- PFOAPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Maximum3.3 ng/Llimit 2 ng/L · 1.6× the limit
- ChlorineDisinfectants · Range0–5.4 mg/Llimit 4 mg/L · 1.4× the limit
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound above EPA limits in City of Poquoson, 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×)below national p90 (19.900000000000006 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
City of Poquoson, 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
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
1 contaminant historically over EPA limits in City of Poquoson, VA
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
HAA5 worst: 2016 | 0.061 mg/L 1.0× | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TTHM worst: 2012 | 0.0761 mg/L 95% | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
GROSS BETA worst: 2012 | 3.3 mrem/yr 83% | 4 mrem/yr | '12'15 |
THALLIUM worst: 2019 | 0.001 mg/L within | 0.002 mg/L | '19 |
BERYLLIUM worst: 2019 | 0.001 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.004 mg/L | '19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2013 | 0.79 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
ANTIMONY worst: 2019 | 0.001 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.006 mg/L | '19 |
ARSENIC worst: 2019 | 0.0011 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.01 mg/L | '19 |
SELENIUM worst: 2019 | 0.0052 mg/L within | 0.05 mg/L | '19 |
CADMIUM worst: 2019 | 0.0005 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.005 mg/L | '19 |
DBCP worst: 2016 | 0.000012 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.0002 mg/L | '16'18 |
BARIUM worst: 2019 | 0.099 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE worst: 2013 | 0.33 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2013 | 0.33 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
ATRAZINE worst: 2016 | 0.000094 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.003 mg/L | '14'16'17'18'19 |
TWOFOURD worst: 2014 | 0.00035 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.07 mg/L | '14'18 |
RADIUM 226 228 worst: 2012 | 0.01 pCi/L within below national p90 | 5 pCi/L | '12'13 |
HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE worst: 2016 | 0.000054 mg/L within | 0.05 mg/L | '16 |
DALAPON worst: 2016 | 0.0013 ug/L within below national p90 | 200 ug/L | '13'14'15'16 |
COPPER worst: 2014 | 0.387 mg/L below national p90 | — | '14'17'19 |
DBAA worst: 2012 | 0.001 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'18'19 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.023 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MBAA worst: 2015 | 0.0044 mg/L | — | '15'18 |
MCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0027 mg/L | — | '12'15'16'18'19 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.025 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0183 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0539 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0039 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.6–3.8 ng/LRangeSystem-wide | 2 ng/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0–3.7 ng/LRangeSystem-wide | 2 ng/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 3.3 ng/LMaximumSystem-wide | 2 ng/LMCL | At or above the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0–5.4 mg/LRangeRange of Individual Test Results Low | 4 mg/LMCLG | At or above the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 1.3–1.5 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 100 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| MercuryA toxic metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial runoff. | Not detected ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 2 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0–2.6 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
Disinfection byproducts
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0Highest single sampleMax Conc | 0MCLG | None detected |
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0RangeSystem-wide | 0MCLG | None detected |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzene | Not detected ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| Dichloromethane | Not detected ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| Ethylbenzene | Not detected ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 700 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| TetrachloroethyleneAn industrial solvent (PCE) used in dry cleaning and degreasing. | Not detected ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| Toluene | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 1 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| TrichloroethyleneAn industrial solvent (TCE) used in metal degreasing. | Not detected ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| Volatile Organic Compounds | Not detected ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| XylenesA group of industrial solvents found in gasoline and paint. | Not detected ug/LMaximumMax Conc | 10 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 0.53–1.82RangeRange of Individual Test Results Low | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.017–0.105 NTURangeRange of Individual Test Results Low | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.2–0.6 pCi/LRangeSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0.6 pCi/LMaximumMax Conc | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about City of Poquoson, VA's water
+Is City of Poquoson, VA tap water safe to drink in 2025?
The 2025 Consumer Confidence Report for the City of Poquoson, VA water utility lists 7 contaminants at or above the federal limit: PFOS, PFBA, Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, Perfluoropentanoic acid, Perfluorohexanoic acid, PFOA, and Chlorine. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in City of Poquoson, VA tap water?
44 contaminants were measured in City of Poquoson, VA's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, vocs & pesticides, and disinfection byproducts. 36 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in City of Poquoson, VA tap water?
7 contaminants in City of Poquoson, VA's 2025 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOS (2.5× the limit); PFBA (1.9× the limit); Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (1.9× the limit); Perfluoropentanoic acid (1.8× the limit); Perfluorohexanoic acid (1.8× the limit); PFOA (1.6× the limit); Chlorine (1.4× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in City of Poquoson, VA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2025 report is PFOS, at 2.5× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from City of Poquoson, VA's 2025 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 City of Poquoson, 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 2025 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.