Is Petersburg, 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 Petersburg.
City of Petersburg supplies Petersburg (33,394 people).
Water system
City of Petersburg
33,394 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID VA3730750
Buys treated water from Appomattox River Water Authority.
| 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: 1.39 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.
Petersburg 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 Petersburg city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond 23 mi City of Richmond | None above limits | 3.59 ppb |
| Newport News 49 mi City of Newport News | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Suffolk 54 mi City of Suffolk | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Hampton 61 mi City of Newport News | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Portsmouth 62 mi City of Portsmouth | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Norfolk 66 mi City of Norfolk | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Petersburg ZIP codes (1)
- 23805
Questions
Is Petersburg tap water safe to drink?
City of Petersburg 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 Petersburg, VA?
City of Petersburg, which serves 33,394 people.
Does Petersburg tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Petersburg 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 Petersburg homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 66% of Petersburg 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 Petersburg'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.