Norfolk Water Quality Report
Explore Norfolk's drinking-water sources, 2024 testing results, PFAS monitoring, lead and copper data, hardness, and the official 2025 Consumer Confidence Report.
What the Latest Norfolk Water Quality Report Covers
Norfolk's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report summarizes water-quality testing performed during 2024. It explains Norfolk's drinking-water sources, treatment and monitoring, regulated substances, lead and copper, PFAS monitoring and other water-quality information.
City conclusion: Norfolk reports that its finished drinking water met every EPA regulatory requirement covered by the 2025 report. The city also reports zero health and quality violations for 2024.
Where Norfolk Tap Water Comes From
The Norfolk Department of Utilities obtains raw water from eight reservoirs, two rivers and four deep wells. Raw water is pumped to one of Norfolk's two treatment plants, where it is filtered and disinfected before being tested and delivered to homes and businesses.
View the 2025 Norfolk Water Quality Report
The embedded document below is the City of Norfolk Department of Utilities 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, summarizing water-quality data from 2024.
Highlights From Norfolk's Official Water-Quality Data
Norfolk reports that its drinking water met the EPA standards covered by the report. The table below highlights selected results from the city's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report; the embedded PDF remains the complete official source.
| Substance or Measure | Norfolk Reported Result | Standard or Context | Report Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | Average 0.03 ppm | MCL 2 ppm | Meets EPA standard |
| Fluoride | Average 0.3 ppm | MCL 4.0 ppm | Meets EPA standard |
| Nitrate as Nitrogen | Average 0.12 ppm | MCL 10 ppm | Meets EPA standard |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Average 24 ppb | MCL 60 ppb | Meets EPA standard |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Average 40 ppb | MCL 80 ppb | Meets EPA standard |
| Lead | 90th percentile < 2.5 ppb | Action level 15 ppb | 0 homes exceeded action level |
| Copper | 90th percentile 0.10 ppm | Action level 1.3 ppm | 0 homes exceeded action level |
| Hardness | Average 47 ppm | 34–59 ppm measured range | Soft to slightly hard |
This summary is not a substitute for the official report. Read the complete PDF for measured ranges, definitions, footnotes and compliance conclusions.
PFAS Results Reported in Norfolk's UCMR5 Monitoring
Norfolk's 2025 report includes its final UCMR5 sampling results from 2023. Three PFAS compounds are listed in the city's table. UCMR monitoring is used by EPA to collect occurrence data for contaminants that may be considered for regulation.
| PFAS Compound | Measured Range | Highest Level | Average Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | ND–0.0051 ppb | 0.0051 ppb | ND |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | ND–0.0037 ppb | 0.0037 ppb | ND |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) | ND–0.0058 ppb | 0.0058 ppb | ND |
Important: A city-wide monitoring result does not tell you the PFAS concentration at an individual faucet. Specialized PFAS testing requires appropriate sampling procedures and laboratory analysis.
What Else Stands Out in Norfolk's 2025 Report?
Nearly 87,000 Tests
Norfolk reports nearly 87,000 annual water-quality tests at reservoirs, treatment plants, homes and throughout the distribution system during 2024.
Detected Within Limits
The report says 27 substances were detected but remained within applicable drinking-water limits.
Tested but Not Found
Norfolk reports that 123 additional substances were tested for but not detected.
2024 turbidity-monitoring violation
The report describes a monitoring violation involving a malfunctioning turbidity monitor on one of 29 filters. Norfolk states that required monitoring was missed during the malfunction, but combined filter-effluent turbidity remained within the normal operating range and there was no indication that finished-water quality or safety was affected.
What the Norfolk Water Quality Report Does—and Does Not—Tell You
The Consumer Confidence Report explains Norfolk's municipal water sources, treatment, monitoring and regulatory results. It does not provide a complete diagnosis of water at an individual property.
What the Report Tells You
- Where Norfolk's municipal drinking water comes from.
- How the public water supply is filtered and disinfected.
- Which regulated and selected unregulated substances were reported.
- How reported values compare with EPA regulatory limits.
- City-wide information about lead, copper, PFAS and secondary water-quality measures.
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 a household wants additional treatment for chlorine, chloramine or drinking-water goals.
- How a private well differs from Norfolk's municipal supply.
- Which treatment system best fits a specific household concern.
Explore Local Water Treatment Options
Continue with the Norfolk page that best matches your household concern or treatment goal.
Water Problems
Review local contaminant data, household concerns and treatment options.
Explore water problems →Reverse Osmosis
Learn about highly filtered drinking and cooking water at a dedicated faucet.
Explore reverse osmosis →Whole-Home Conditioners
Explore whole-home treatment for chlorine or chloramine concerns, taste, odor and conditioning goals.
Explore whole-home conditioning →PFAS Water Filters
Compare whole-home PFAS filtration and reverse-osmosis drinking-water treatment.
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 a thorough in-home evaluation for common household water concerns.
Schedule a free water test →Norfolk Water Quality Report FAQs
What year does the 2025 Norfolk Water Quality Report cover?
The 2025 Consumer Confidence Report summarizes water-quality data from testing performed during 2024. Norfolk's UCMR5 PFAS table reflects its final UCMR5 sampling event from 2023.
Where does Norfolk drinking water come from?
Norfolk obtains raw water from eight reservoirs, two rivers and four deep wells. Water is pumped to one of the city's two treatment plants for filtration and disinfection before distribution.
Did Norfolk water meet EPA drinking-water standards?
Yes. Norfolk's 2025 report states that its finished drinking water met every EPA regulatory requirement covered by the report and reports zero health and quality violations for 2024.
Were PFAS reported in Norfolk's UCMR5 monitoring?
Yes. Norfolk's report lists PFPeA, PFHxA and PFOS in its UCMR5 results. The reported average for each was ND, while measurable highest levels are listed in the city's table.
Is Norfolk water hard?
Norfolk reports a hardness range of 34–59 ppm and an average of 47 ppm. The city describes its water as averaging between soft and slightly hard.
Does the city report test the water inside my house?
The report includes public-system monitoring and some compliance sampling at customer homes, such as lead and copper sampling, but it does not provide a complete water analysis for every individual property.
How can I test water at my Norfolk home?
East Coast Water Quality offers an in-home evaluation for common household water concerns. Norfolk Utilities also states that its Water Quality Lab offers free water-quality testing for Norfolk water customers. Specialized laboratory testing is required for some contaminants and purposes.
Have Questions About Water at Your Norfolk Home?
Schedule a free in-home water evaluation to compare your household water sources, review common water-quality concerns and determine whether additional treatment fits your goals.
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