What was found in Bedford's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 711 µg/L 7.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6338 µg/L — TIMBER RIDGE SUBDIVISION · 110 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 5250 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: TIMBER RIDGE SUBDIVISION · 110 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 566.2 µg/L 44% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1411 µg/L — VALLEY MILLS CROSSING · 70 people · 2018 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 345 µg/L 8.6% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: MONTVALE WATER, INC. · 698 people · 2018 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 10.54 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 146.9 µg/L — TIMBER RIDGE SUBDIVISION · 110 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 89.23 µg/L 112% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 101.2 µg/L — STEWARTSVILLE CONSECUTIVE · 340 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 79.63 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 95.75 µg/L — STEWARTSVILLE CONSECUTIVE · 340 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 91.03 µg/L 152% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 64.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 33.64 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 47.95 µg/L — SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE WTP · 0 people · 2015 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 37.1425 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: VALLEY MILLS CROSSING · 70 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 32.8 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: VALLEY MILLS CROSSING · 70 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.25 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.99 µg/L — VALLEY MILLS CROSSING · 70 people · 2018 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.204 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.5 µg/L — SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE WTP · 0 people · 2015 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 10.72 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4.578 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.42 µg/L — SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE WTP · 0 people · 2015 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 7.096 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 0.9300 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 6 pCi/L — TIMBER RIDGE SUBDIVISION · 110 people · 2014 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 4.968 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: VALLEY MILLS CROSSING · 70 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.048 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.325 µg/L — MONTVALE WATER, INC. · 698 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.9700 pCi/L 19% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 3.37 pCi/L — TIMBER RIDGE SUBDIVISION · 110 people · 2014 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.285 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.2 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: TIMBER RIDGE SUBDIVISION · 110 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.1 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE WTP · 0 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.2000 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE WTP · 0 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.1000 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) · 38,794 people · 2026
Highest in the city: 0.0050 mg/L — TIMBER RIDGE SUBDIVISION · 110 people · 2025 | 8/8 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Bedford
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) | 38,794 |
| MONTVALE WATER, INC. | 698 |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW SHORES | 490 |
| STEWARTSVILLE CONSECUTIVE | 340 |
| TIMBER RIDGE SUBDIVISION | 110 |
| VALLEY MILLS CROSSING | 70 |
| PARADISE POINT ESTATES | 60 |
| SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE WTP | 0 |
Frequently asked questions about Bedford tap water
Is Bedford tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Bedford. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Bedford?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Bedford, Virginia to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Bedford's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Bedford include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.