Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Suffolk, VA tap water
25 contaminants were measured in the Suffolk, VA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 25
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- Chloramine
- Service area
- VA
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Suffolk, VA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 8 sources.
Source
- CRUMPS MILL POND · 2
- REIDS FERRY WELL
- EDR PRODUCTION WELL
- FLUORIDE WELL
- + 3 more
Treatment
- SUFFOLK WTP
Distribution
Also buys water from PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
2 contaminants historically over EPA limits in Suffolk, 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
TTHM worst: 2012 | 0.0921 mg/L 1.2× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2014 | 0.064 mg/L 1.1× | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
GROSS BETA worst: 2013 | 2.6 mrem/yr within | 4 mrem/yr | '13'16 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2019 | 1.4000000000000001 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
RADIUM 226 228 worst: 2016 | 1.2 pCi/L within below national p90 | 5 pCi/L | '16'19 |
GROSS ALPHA worst: 2019 | 1.9 pCi/L within | 15 pCi/L | '19 |
BARIUM worst: 2012 | 0.019 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18 |
NITRATE worst: 2012 | 0.06 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2012 | 0.06 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12 |
COPPER worst: 2012 | 0.004 mg/L below national p90 | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
LEAD worst: 2013 | 0.001 mg/L | — | '13'16'19 |
DBAA worst: 2015 | 0.0040999999999999995 mg/L | — | '15 |
DCAA worst: 2014 | 0.024 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MCAA worst: 2016 | 0.002 mg/L | — | '16 |
TCAA worst: 2014 | 0.023 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2013 | 0.0028 mg/L | — | '13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2013 | 0.012199999999999999 mg/L | — | '13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2014 | 0.002 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 0.03–4.7 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.57Reported levelSystem-wide | 6.5MCL | At or above the limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 120 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 500 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 14.9 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.08AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.359 NTUMaximumLevel NTUs | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 1.67–0.73 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | 0.37 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 5 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | Not detected ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 50–78 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0Reported levelNumber of Positive Samples | 1MCL | None detected |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | Not detected ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 3 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | Not detected ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | Not detected ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | None detected |
People also ask about Suffolk, VA's water
+Is Suffolk, VA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Suffolk, VA water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Chloramine and pH. 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 Suffolk, VA tap water?
25 contaminants were measured in Suffolk, VA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and physical & aggregate. 20 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 Suffolk, VA tap water?
2 contaminants in Suffolk, VA's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Chloramine (1.2× the limit); pH (1.2× 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 Suffolk, VA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Chloramine, at 1.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the disinfectants family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Suffolk, VA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: TTHM. 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 Suffolk, VA's 2024 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 Suffolk, 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 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.