What was found in Marion'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 | 1133.5 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 872 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019 | 3/11 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 300 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 318.35 µg/L — POOR VALLEY · 163 people · 2017 | 7/11 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 39 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 84.55 µg/L — HUTTON BRANCH · 833 people · 2019 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 20.2 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 63.05 µg/L — ATKINS EXTENSION · 597 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 15.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 53.75 µg/L — ATKINS EXTENSION · 597 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 18.6 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 47.75 µg/L — WALKER CREEK · 1,135 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 10.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 26 µg/L — THOMAS BRIDGE WATER CORP · 3,500 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 8.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.05 µg/L — WALKER CREEK · 1,135 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 17.464 µg/L 116% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019 | 6/11 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 2.255 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 8.26 pCi/L — HUTTON BRANCH · 833 people · 2018 | 3/11 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 4.15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.085 µg/L — ATKINS EXTENSION · 597 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.245 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.9 µg/L — WATSONS GAP WATER SYSTEM · 1,892 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.8700 pCi/L 17% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 3.86 pCi/L — HUTTON BRANCH · 833 people · 2018 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 0.8600 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.57 µg/L — WATSONS GAP WATER SYSTEM · 1,892 people · 2019 | 10/11 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0052 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2023 | 1/11 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: MARION, TOWN OF · 8,500 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0042 mg/L — POOR VALLEY · 163 people · 2026 | 7/11 | 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 Marion
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| MARION, TOWN OF | 8,500 |
| THOMAS BRIDGE WATER CORP | 3,500 |
| WATSONS GAP WATER SYSTEM | 1,892 |
| WALKER CREEK | 1,135 |
| HUTTON BRANCH | 833 |
| ATKINS EXTENSION | 597 |
| POOR VALLEY | 163 |
| SOUTH FORK | 150 |
| SAINT CLAIRS CREEK | 110 |
| EAST HUNGRY MOTHER | 110 |
| ST. JOHNS CROSSING | 55 |
Frequently asked questions about Marion tap water
Is Marion tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 17 contaminants in the water serving Marion. 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 Marion?
11 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Marion, Virginia to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Marion's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Marion include Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, TTHM. 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.