Is there PFAS in City of Richmond Va water?
No PFAS were detected in any of the 4 samples EPA's program collected.
City of Richmond Va is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Richmond, Virginia, serving about 233,655 people, including Richmond, Henrico. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 4 times across 1 sampling point between Oct 2023 and Oct 2024.
Every PFAS detected
None of the 29 PFAS were found at or above EPA's minimum reporting levels (2 to 20 ppt depending on the compound).
Not detected: PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, PFBA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, PFPeA, HFPO-DA, PFMBA, PFEESA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFHpS, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFHxA, NMeFOSAA, PFHxS, PFUnA, PFHpA, PFNA, PFOS, PFOA, PFDA, PFDoA, PFBS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
No PFAS action is needed on these results. If your water tastes or smells of chlorine, a whole-house city water filter is the usual fix.
Other systems in Virginia
- City of Norfolk Va 3 PFAS detected
- Arlington County 2 PFAS detected
- Western Virginia Water Authority above an EPA limit
- Pwcsa - East above an EPA limit
- City of Chesapeake - Northwest River Sys none detected
- City of Alexandria 3 PFAS detected
All 171 tested systems in Virginia
ZIP codes served
23173 23218 23219 23220 23221 23222 23223 23224 23225 23226 23227 23230 23231 23232 23234 23235 23241 23249 23260 23261 23269 23274 23276 23278 23279 23282 23284 23285 23286 23289 23290 23291 23292 23293 23295 23298
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in City of Richmond Va water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID VA4760100. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/virginia/city-of-richmond-va/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID VA4760100). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.