What was found in Portsmouth City'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 1206 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 201.05 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 556.25 µg/L — NSA HAMPTON ROADS, PORTSMOUTH ANNEX · 6,072 people · 2017 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 120 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2016 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 120 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 56.886 µg/L 71% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 74.37 µg/L — NSA HAMPTON ROADS, PORTSMOUTH ANNEX · 6,072 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 40.29 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 60.52 µg/L — NSA HAMPTON ROADS, PORTSMOUTH ANNEX · 6,072 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 52.039 µg/L 87% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 27.7 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 25.8185 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 20.1165 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.25 µg/L — NSA HAMPTON ROADS, PORTSMOUTH ANNEX · 6,072 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 18.4 µg/L 123% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 13.18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.1 µg/L — NSA HAMPTON ROADS, PORTSMOUTH ANNEX · 6,072 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 6.865 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.982 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.995 µg/L — NSA HAMPTON ROADS, PORTSMOUTH ANNEX · 6,072 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.5 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY PORTSMOUTH · 17,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 3.39 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.804 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.7 pCi/L 11% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.1771 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.1 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.7585 pCi/L 15% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.5000 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY PORTSMOUTH · 17,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.1000 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF · 97,915 people · 2021
Highest in the city: 0.0010 mg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY PORTSMOUTH · 17,000 people · 2024 | 3/3 | 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 Portsmouth City
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PORTSMOUTH, CITY OF | 97,915 |
| NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY PORTSMOUTH | 17,000 |
| NSA HAMPTON ROADS, PORTSMOUTH ANNEX | 6,072 |
Frequently asked questions about Portsmouth City tap water
Is Portsmouth City tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Portsmouth City. 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 Portsmouth City?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Portsmouth City, Virginia to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Portsmouth City's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Portsmouth City include Fluoride, Copper, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, 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.