Chesapeake, VA Water Source & Treatment
An educational overview of where Chesapeake drinking water comes from, how it’s treated, and where to find the official annual water quality report.
Where Chesapeake Water Comes From
Chesapeake’s drinking water primarily comes from the Northwest River and additional regional surface water sources connected to the Hampton Roads water supply system.
The city also receives supplemental water through the Lake Gaston regional water supply system, which provides additional raw water to help meet demand across the South Hampton Roads region.
How Chesapeake Water Is Treated
Chesapeake treats drinking water at two facilities: the Northwest River Water Treatment Plant and the Lake Gaston Water Treatment Plant.
Treatment typically includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection, along with advanced treatment technologies such as membrane filtration and reverse osmosis where needed to ensure drinking water meets state and federal safety standards.
Official Chesapeake Water Quality Report
The City of Chesapeake publishes an annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) summarizing source information, treatment, and regulated testing results.
Previous year report
View the 2024 Report on This Page
Source: City of Chesapeake Public Utilities — official annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report).
Additional Water Information (EWG Database)
Some homeowners also explore third-party water databases such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database. This resource compiles publicly available testing data and presents it using its own health-based guidelines.
EWG is not a regulatory agency, and its screening levels may differ from EPA or state drinking water standards. For official compliance reporting, always refer to the City’s annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).
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