Virginia Beach tap water is safe to drink, meeting all regulatory standards set by state and federal health agencies. The city’s water quality management system is comprehensive, featuring a network of supply, advanced treatment protocols, and rigorous testing. This structured approach ensures the water delivered to residents is safe for consumption and daily use. Maintaining high-quality municipal water involves continuous oversight, from the source water bodies through the treatment and distribution infrastructure.
Water Sources and Supply System
Virginia Beach receives its water primarily from surface water sources, relying on regional utility partnerships for its supply. The main source is Lake Gaston, located approximately 76 miles away in Brunswick County, requiring an extensive infrastructure for transport. Water from Lake Gaston travels through a dedicated pipeline to Lake Prince, a reservoir managed by the City of Norfolk. From the reservoir, the water is pumped to the Moores Bridges Water Treatment Plant in Norfolk, the central facility for purification.
Because it relies on surface water, the source is rated as highly susceptible to contamination from runoff. This susceptibility rating is common for most surface water sources and does not reflect the safety of the finished water, as the extensive treatment process mitigates these potential raw water risks before distribution.
Regulatory Oversight and Treatment Processes
Water safety is validated by a strict regulatory framework and advanced purification technology. The utility operates under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), with oversight provided by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). This framework dictates the standards and testing frequency for hundreds of potential contaminants.
The treatment process at the Moores Bridges plant involves a multi-stage approach utilizing conventional filtration methods. This includes coagulation and flocculation to clump small particles, sedimentation to settle these clumps, and filtration to physically remove remaining impurities, such as silt and microorganisms.
Disinfection is a necessary step, preventing the spread of waterborne diseases. The water is disinfected using chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia, which provides a long-lasting residual disinfectant throughout the distribution system. The utility also adds a corrosion control inhibitor to form a protective layer on pipe interiors and prevent materials like lead from dissolving into the water. The treated water is tested for over 150 different substances before leaving the plant and is continually monitored.
Interpreting Official Quality Reports
Residents can find comprehensive details about their water quality in the annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), mandated by the federal government. This report summarizes the previous year’s test results and is typically available online through the city’s Department of Public Utilities.
Understanding the CCR requires familiarity with two main compliance terms: the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and the Treatment Technique (TT). The MCL represents the highest allowed level of a contaminant in drinking water, set as close to the health goal as feasible. A TT is a required process designed to reduce contaminant levels when measuring a specific MCL is impractical, such as filtration and disinfection procedures for surface water.
The CCR shows that while trace amounts of contaminants may be detected, levels remain below the MCL, indicating regulatory compliance. Common contaminants reported include Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs), such as Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAAs), which form when disinfectants react with natural organic matter. The utility monitors these closely, as exposure above the MCL over many years can increase health risks.
Lead is monitored through an Action Level (AL), which triggers corrective action if the 90th percentile of tested samples exceeds a certain concentration. Virginia Beach maintains low lead levels through service line inventory and corrosion control.
Distinguishing Aesthetic Issues from Safety Concerns
While the water meets all health standards, some residents notice characteristics that lead them to question its safety. These concerns are typically aesthetic and do not pose a health risk.
For example, the use of chloramines can occasionally result in a faint chlorine taste or odor. Virginia Beach water is also considered moderately hard due to dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. Hard water can cause scale buildup on fixtures and appliances, but it is not a safety concern.
Cloudiness can occur when cold water warms up in home pipes, causing harmless, temporary air bubbles that dissipate quickly.