Chesapeake Water Quality Report
Learn where Chesapeake drinking water comes from, how the city treats it, what the 2025 Water Quality Report says, and where to explore local water-treatment options.
What the Latest Chesapeake Water Report Covers
Chesapeake's 2025 Water Quality Report summarizes monitoring performed from January 1 through December 31, 2025 unless otherwise stated. The City reports that its drinking water consistently meets or surpasses applicable drinking-water standards.
Important distinction: A Consumer Confidence Report summarizes public-system monitoring and regulatory compliance. It does not test the water at one individual home's faucet or diagnose conditions caused by private plumbing, fixtures or a private well.
Where Chesapeake Tap Water Comes From
Chesapeake uses multiple sources and two treatment plants. The Northwest River Water Treatment Plant treats Northwest River water and brackish groundwater from four wells along South Battlefield Boulevard. The Lake Gaston Water Treatment Plant treats raw water purchased from Norfolk and is supplemented by Western Branch groundwater wells. Western Branch customers also receive treated water purchased from Portsmouth.
View the 2025 Chesapeake Water Quality Report
The embedded document below is the Chesapeake Department of Public Utilities Water Quality Report containing 2025 data.
Highlights From Chesapeake's Official Water-Quality Data
The City's report says the listed regulated substances met EPA standards. The table below highlights selected results from the report; the embedded PDF remains the complete official source because results can differ by source and entry point.
| Substance or Measure | Reported Result | Standard or Context | Report Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | Up to 40 ppb reported | MCL 2,000 ppb | Meets EPA standard |
| Total Chlorine | Running annual averages: 3.36, 3.20 and 2.62 ppm by supply | MRDL 4 ppm | Meets EPA standard |
| Fluoride | Reported values include 0.75, 0.60 and 0.82 ppm | MCL 4 ppm | Meets EPA standard |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | Highest LRAA: 30 ppb for NWR/LG; 48 ppb for Portsmouth supply | MCL 80 ppb | Meets EPA standard |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Highest LRAA: 21 ppb for NWR/LG; 33 ppb for Portsmouth supply | MCL 60 ppb | Meets EPA standard |
| Lead | 0 samples above the 15 ppb action level | Lead action level 15 ppb | No samples above action level |
| Combined Radium | 0.6 pCi/L NWR; 0.2 pCi/L LG; ND in Norfolk and Portsmouth supplies | MCL 5 pCi/L | Meets EPA standard |
| Hardness | Highest reported values: 36 ppm NWR/LG, 53 ppm Norfolk, 54 ppm Portsmouth | No federal MCL | Additional water-quality parameter |
This summary is not a substitute for the official report. Read the complete PDF for ranges, entry-point definitions, footnotes and compliance conclusions.
What the Chesapeake Water Quality Report Does—and Does Not—Tell You
The report explains Chesapeake's public water sources, treatment processes, regulated monitoring and compliance. It is not a complete diagnosis of the water at an individual home.
What the Report Tells You
- How Chesapeake uses multiple municipal water sources.
- How the Northwest River and Lake Gaston treatment plants operate.
- Which regulated substances were tested and reported.
- How reported results compare with EPA limits or action levels.
- Public-system information about lead, copper, radionuclides and UCMR 5 monitoring.
What It May Not Tell You About Your Home
- Conditions caused by an individual service line, plumbing or fixtures.
- How water tastes, smells or feels at a specific property.
- Whether household scale, spotting or hardness is a concern for you.
- How a private well differs from the municipal supply.
- Which treatment system best matches a specific property or treatment goal.
PFAS and UCMR 5: The 2025 report lists lithium and 29 PFAS under UCMR 5 monitoring and reports them as non-detect for the Northwest River and Western Branch systems during the listed sampling periods.
About EWG data: East Coast Water Quality's prior Chesapeake report page also links to the Environmental Working Group Tap Water Database. EWG is not a regulatory agency and uses its own health-based guidelines, which can differ from EPA drinking-water standards. Use the City's report for official compliance information and EWG as a separate third-party screening resource.
Explore Local Water Treatment Options
Continue with the page that best matches your household concern or treatment goal.
Water Problems
Review contaminants, household symptoms and the treatment systems used for different goals.
Explore water problems →Reverse Osmosis
Learn about highly filtered drinking and cooking water at a dedicated faucet.
Explore reverse osmosis →Water Softeners
Compare whole-home treatment for hardness, scale, spotting and chlorine taste.
Explore water softeners →PFAS Water Filters
Compare whole-home PFAS filtration and reverse osmosis drinking-water protection.
Explore PFAS filtration →Well Water Treatment
Explore treatment for iron, sulfur odor, acidity and other private-well conditions.
Explore well-water treatment →Free Water Test
Schedule an in-home evaluation for hardness and common aesthetic water concerns.
Schedule a free water test →Chesapeake Water Quality Report FAQs
What year does the 2025 Chesapeake Water Quality Report cover?
The report's 2025 Water Quality Table covers monitoring from January 1 through December 31, 2025 unless otherwise stated.
Where does Chesapeake drinking water come from?
Chesapeake uses the Northwest River, groundwater wells, raw water purchased from Norfolk and treated water purchased from Portsmouth. The City operates the Northwest River Water Treatment Plant and Lake Gaston Water Treatment Plant.
Did Chesapeake water meet drinking-water standards?
The City's 2025 report states that Chesapeake consistently meets or surpasses applicable drinking-water standards, and the regulated-substance tables identify the listed results as meeting EPA standards.
Were PFAS detected in Chesapeake's UCMR 5 monitoring?
The 2025 report lists the UCMR 5 contaminants, including 29 PFAS, as ND (not detected) for the Northwest River and Western Branch systems during the listed sampling periods.
Does Chesapeake use reverse osmosis at a municipal treatment plant?
Yes. The report states that the Northwest River Water Treatment Plant uses reverse osmosis membrane treatment as part of its treatment capabilities, along with coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and ultraviolet disinfection.
Does the city report test the water inside my house?
The report includes citywide system monitoring and samples from homes and businesses, but it does not provide a property-specific diagnosis of your individual faucet, plumbing or private well.
Where can I compare Chesapeake contaminants with treatment systems?
The Chesapeake Water Problems page is designed to provide the broader contaminant and household-problem overview and compare treatment options by goal.
How can I test water at my Chesapeake home?
East Coast Water Quality offers an in-home evaluation for hardness and common aesthetic concerns. Specialized laboratory testing may be required for contaminants that cannot be measured through an in-home screening.
Have Questions About the Water at Your Chesapeake Home?
Schedule a free home water test to explore hardness, taste, odor and the treatment goals that matter at your property.
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