Community Water System · PWS VA3700500
Newport News, City Of
Newport News, Virginia 23606 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 407,300 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 407,300
- People served
- 13
- EPA violations
- 0
- Health-based
- 5 PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 13 drinking-water violations at Newport News, City Of - below the Virginia per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.
- 13
- Total EPA violations on record
- 0%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 407,300
- People served by this system
- 5
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Newport News, City Of
Newport News, City Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 407,300 residents in Newport News, Virginia through 136,940 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 13 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 11 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 1980.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Toxaphene, recorded in 1 violation (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 6.2 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.
Across Virginia, EPA tracks 2,821 public water systems serving 7,911,199 people, with 146,670 cumulative violations and 25,642 health-based violations on record. About 90% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 52 violations. Statewide, 70 of 171 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (40.9%).
Newport News, City Of's 13 violations sit below the Virginia average.
All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
5 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 136,940
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 0
- Monitoring Violations
- 11
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toxaphene | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Fluoride | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Barium | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Cadmium | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Mercury | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Endrin | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| BHC-GAMMA | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Arsenic | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Methoxychlor | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Selenium | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Chromium | MR | 1 | 1980 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 21 of 232 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFDoA | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 8/17/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 8/17/2023 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 8/17/2023 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 8/17/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 8/17/2023 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 8/17/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 8/17/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 8/17/2023 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 8/17/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 8/17/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 8/17/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 8/17/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 8/17/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 8/17/2023 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 8/17/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 8/17/2023 | 3.30 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 8/17/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 8/17/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 8/17/2023 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 7/10/2023 | 4.70 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 7/10/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 7/10/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 7/10/2023 | 4.30 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFMBA | 7/10/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 7/10/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 7/10/2023 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 7/10/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 7/10/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 7/10/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 7/10/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 7/10/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 7/10/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 7/10/2023 | 4.40 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 7/10/2023 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 7/10/2023 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 7/10/2023 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 7/10/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 7/10/2023 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 7/10/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 7/10/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
Verify This Water System
The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Newport News, City Of.
EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:
View PWS ID VA3700500 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
Virginia Drinking Water Authority
Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Newport News, City Of under EPA-delegated authority.
Open VA regulator portalSource: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water
Violation Timeline
Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.
| Year (latest) | Contaminant | Category | Count | EPA Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Toxaphene | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 2020 |
| 1980 | Fluoride | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 1025 |
| 1980 | Barium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 1010 |
| 1980 | Cadmium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 1015 |
| 1980 | Mercury | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 1035 |
| 1980 | Endrin | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 2005 |
| 1980 | BHC-GAMMA | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 2010 |
| 1980 | Arsenic | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 1005 |
| 1980 | Methoxychlor | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 2015 |
| 1980 | Selenium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 1045 |
| 1980 | Chromium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / VA3700500 / 1020 |
How Newport News, City Of Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Newport News, City Of | Virginia avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 13 | 52 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 0 | 9.1 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | 5 compounds | 40.9% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 407,300 | 2,804 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 2,821 regulated public water systems in Virginia.
Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
| Contaminant | Federal MCL / Action Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) | Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique |
| Arsenic | 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) | Health-based MCL since 2006 |
| Total Coliform | Treatment technique (RTCR) | Indicator organism, monitoring trigger |
| PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) | 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) | Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026) |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newport News, City Of water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Newport News, City Of serve? ▼
What type of violations does Newport News, City Of have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Newport News, City Of water? ▼
What water source does Newport News, City Of use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.