What was found in Chatham'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 | 2700 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: WAYSIDE ACRES SUBDIVISION # 1 · 55 people · 2019 | 5/14 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 2660 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: WAYSIDE ACRES SUBDIVISION # 1 · 55 people · 2019 | 6/14 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 81.25 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1497.5 µg/L — WOODROAM SUBDIVISION · 80 people · 2019 | 14/14 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1038.5 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: CHATHAM, TOWN OF · 2,500 people · 2019 | 6/14 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 1.2 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 108.5 µg/L — CHATHAM, TOWN OF · 2,500 people · 2019 | 10/14 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 87.6 µg/L 110% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 104.5 µg/L — GRIT ROAD WATER SUPPLY · 210 people · 2019 | 9/14 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 54.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 94.6 µg/L — GRIT ROAD WATER SUPPLY · 210 people · 2019 | 9/14 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 40.2 µg/L 67% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 81.25 µg/L — GRIT ROAD WATER SUPPLY · 210 people · 2019 | 9/14 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 64.25 µg/L 3.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: VISTA POINTE LANDING · 115 people · 2017 | 6/14 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 42 µg/L — GRIT ROAD WATER SUPPLY · 210 people · 2019 | 9/14 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 37.9 µg/L — GRIT ROAD WATER SUPPLY · 210 people · 2019 | 9/14 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 34.335 µg/L — TIGHTSQUEEZE WATER SUPPLY · 209 people · 2019 | 7/14 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.35 µg/L — MOUNT CROSS ROAD · 227 people · 2019 | 9/14 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 23 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.8 µg/L — RINGGOLD INDUSTRIAL PARK · 448 people · 2019 | 8/14 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 9.335 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11 µg/L — CHATHAM, TOWN OF · 2,500 people · 2019 | 8/14 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 8.725 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WOODROAM SUBDIVISION · 80 people · 2017 | 6/14 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 6.956 pCi/L 46% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: ROBIN COURT SUBDIVISION · 40 people · 2019 | 2/14 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 6.908 pCi/L 138% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: ROBIN COURT SUBDIVISION · 40 people · 2019 | 6/14 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.98 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.8 µg/L — MOUNT CROSS ROAD · 227 people · 2019 | 7/14 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.095 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.8 µg/L — ROUTE 58 WEST · 1,260 people · 2019 | 3/14 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.2060 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: WAYSIDE ACRES SUBDIVISION # 1 · 55 people · 2019 | 4/14 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0271 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2023 | 1/14 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: MOUNT HERMON · 4,145 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0240 mg/L — ROBIN COURT SUBDIVISION · 40 people · 2023 | 14/14 | 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 Chatham
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| MOUNT HERMON | 4,145 |
| CHATHAM, TOWN OF | 2,500 |
| RT 29 NORTH | 1,906 |
| ROUTE 58 WEST | 1,260 |
| RINGGOLD INDUSTRIAL PARK | 448 |
| MOUNT CROSS ROAD | 227 |
| GRIT ROAD WATER SUPPLY | 210 |
| TIGHTSQUEEZE WATER SUPPLY | 209 |
| VISTA POINTE LANDING | 115 |
| WOODROAM SUBDIVISION | 80 |
| WAYSIDE ACRES SUBDIVISION # 1 | 55 |
| WAYSIDE ACRES SUBDIVISION # 2 | 43 |
| ROBIN COURT SUBDIVISION | 40 |
| OLD RICHMOND ROAD | 39 |
Frequently asked questions about Chatham tap water
Is Chatham tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Chatham. 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 Chatham?
14 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Chatham, Virginia to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Chatham's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Chatham include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, Lead. 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.