Drinking water quality · 2025
What's in City of Poquoson, VA tap water
42 contaminants were measured in the City of Poquoson, VA water system's 2025 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Contaminants measured
- 42
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- Chlorine
- Service area
- VA
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×)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 3.3 ng/LMaximumSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 3.8 ng/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 5–32 ug/LRangeRange of Individual Test Results Low | None set | Within the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 40 ug/LHighest single sampleMax Conc | None set | Within the limit |
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | Not detected ug/LMaximumMax Conc | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| BromoformA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| ChloroformA trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water. | 3 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| DibromochloromethaneA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.77 mg/LMaximumMax Conc | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.065 mg/LMaximumMax Conc | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| NitriteA compound from fertilizer runoff, sewage, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.003 mg/LMaximumMax Conc | 1 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Cyanide | Not detected ug/LMaximumMax Conc | None set | None detected |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.6 pCi/LMaximumMax Conc | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0.6 pCi/LMaximumMax Conc | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.105 NTUMaximumMax Conc | None set | Within the limit |
| 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 |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 1.5 ug/LMaximumMax Conc | None set | Within the limit |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| Chlorobenzene | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| O Dichlorobenzene | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| P Dichlorobenzene | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Pce | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| Styrene | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Tce | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| Vinyl Chloride | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.026 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Antimony | Not detected ug/LMaximumMax Conc | None set | None detected |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | Not detected ug/LMaximumMax Conc | None set | None detected |
| Beryllium | Not detected ug/LMaximumMax Conc | None set | None detected |
| Cadmium | Not detected ug/LMaximumMax Conc | None set | None detected |
| MercuryA toxic metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial runoff. | Not detected ug/LMaximumMax Conc | None set | None detected |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected ug/LMaximumMax Conc | None set | None detected |
| Thallium | Not detected ug/LMaximumMax Conc | None set | None detected |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.053 %90th percentileMax Conc | 1.3 %Action level | Detected — no federal limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | Not detected %90th percentileMax Conc | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0 %Highest single sampleMax Conc | 0 %MCLG | None detected |
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0 %Highest single sampleMax Conc | 0 %MCLG | None detected |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzene | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| Dichloromethane | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
| Ethylbenzene | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Toluene | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 1 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
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 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: 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?
42 contaminants were measured in City of Poquoson, VA's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, other, and disinfection byproducts. 19 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?
One contaminant in City of Poquoson, VA's 2025 report sits at or above the federal 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 Chlorine, at 1.4× the federal threshold. It belongs to the disinfectants family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in City of Poquoson, VA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: PFOA. 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 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.