What was found in Chesapeake City's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 1106 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4090 µg/L — SUNRAY ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY · 45 people · 2018 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 114.6 µg/L 8.8% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1412.5 µg/L — ST. BRIDES CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 2,354 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 335 µg/L 3.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 190 µg/L 1.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2013 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 51.05 µg/L 64% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 70.26 µg/L — CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - WESTERN BRANCH SYS · 32,326 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 39 µg/L 65% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 51.3 µg/L — CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - WESTERN BRANCH SYS · 32,326 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 33.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 46.075 µg/L — CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - WESTERN BRANCH SYS · 32,326 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 34.4 µg/L 1.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 45.85 µg/L — SUNRAY ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY · 45 people · 2018 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.25 µg/L — CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - WESTERN BRANCH SYS · 32,326 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.415 µg/L — CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - WESTERN BRANCH SYS · 32,326 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.89 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 20.42 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY-NW · 1,400 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 13.637 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 19.8875 µg/L — SUNRAY WATER CO., INC. · 60 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 10.15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.215 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY-NW · 1,400 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 9.245 µg/L 185% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY-NW · 1,400 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 4.1 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 8.885 pCi/L — SUNRAY ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY · 45 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.745 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.75 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY-NW · 1,400 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.802 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY-NW · 1,400 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 5.185 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY-NW · 1,400 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.52 µg/L — CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - WESTERN BRANCH SYS · 32,326 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.836 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2 µg/L — SUNRAY WATER CO., INC. · 60 people · 2018 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.3000 pCi/L 6% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 1.1 pCi/L — SUNRAY WATER CO., INC. · 60 people · 2016 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 1 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY-NW · 1,400 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Benzene | 1 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY-NW · 1,400 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.7000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY-NW · 1,400 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.6000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: SUNRAY ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY · 45 people · 2014 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0011 mg/L 7.5% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS · 165,240 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0114 mg/L — SUNRAY ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY · 45 people · 2027 | 6/6 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Chesapeake City
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - NORTHWEST RIVER SYS | 165,240 |
| CITY OF CHESAPEAKE - WESTERN BRANCH SYS | 32,326 |
| ST. BRIDES CORRECTIONAL CENTER | 2,354 |
| NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY-NW | 1,400 |
| SUNRAY WATER CO., INC. | 60 |
| SUNRAY ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY | 45 |
Frequently asked questions about Chesapeake City tap water
Is Chesapeake City tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Chesapeake City. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Chesapeake City?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Chesapeake City, Virginia to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Chesapeake City's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Chesapeake City include Fluoride, Copper, Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.