What was found in South Boston'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 319.5 µg/L 3.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4352.5 µg/L — CLOVER, COMMUNITY OF · 290 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 908 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2904 µg/L — VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY · 466 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 347.4 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1270 µg/L — CLOVER, COMMUNITY OF · 290 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 330 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 22.91 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 214.8 µg/L — VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY · 466 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 119.1 µg/L 149% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 55.55 µg/L 93% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 46.12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 39.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 20.35 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 33.7 µg/L — VIRGILINA, TOWN OF · 300 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 31.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 27.04 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 15.8 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: VIRGILINA, TOWN OF · 300 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 15.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 12.005 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 1.7 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 10.16 pCi/L — VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY · 466 people · 2015 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 9.62 pCi/L 64% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: VIRGILINA, TOWN OF · 300 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 6.586 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: VIRGILINA, TOWN OF · 300 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.3000 pCi/L 6% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 6.5 pCi/L — VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY · 466 people · 2015 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 5.11 µg/L 5.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY · 466 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.8 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: VIRGILINA, TOWN OF · 300 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.126 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.825 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Oxamyl | 1 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Carbofuran | 0.9000 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 40 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.4000 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT · 9,364 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0060 mg/L — VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY · 466 people · 2024 | 4/4 | 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 South Boston
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| HCSA- LEIGH STREET PLANT | 9,364 |
| VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY | 466 |
| VIRGILINA, TOWN OF | 300 |
| CLOVER, COMMUNITY OF | 290 |
Frequently asked questions about South Boston tap water
Is South Boston tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving South Boston. 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 South Boston?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for South Boston, Virginia to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in South Boston's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in South Boston include Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Nitrate, Barium. 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.