Is Charlottesville, VA tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for City of Charlottesville.
City of Charlottesville supplies Charlottesville (46,553 people).
Water system
City of Charlottesville
46,553 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID VA2540500
Buys treated water from Rwsa Urban System.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Virginia, 12 of 164 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 3 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Virginia results.
Charlottesville homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Charlottesville city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Staunton 32 mi City of Staunton | None above limits | 3.56 ppb |
| Harrisonburg 35 mi City of Harrisonburg | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Fredericksburg 57 mi City of Fredericksburg | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Lynchburg 59 mi City of Lynchburg | None above limits | 2 ppb |
| Richmond 65 mi City of Richmond | None above limits | 3.59 ppb |
| Manassas 73 mi Prince William Water – West | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Charlottesville ZIP codes (1)
- 22908
Questions
Is Charlottesville tap water safe to drink?
City of Charlottesville has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Charlottesville, VA?
City of Charlottesville, which serves 46,553 people.
Does Charlottesville tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Charlottesville had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Charlottesville homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 64% of Charlottesville homes as built before 1980 (Virginia: 44%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. City of Charlottesville's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.