Is there PFAS in Western Virginia Water Authority water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Western Virginia Water Authority averaged 4.8 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 1.2 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Western Virginia Water Authority
Serves 182,700 people · 38 PFOA samples from 15 sampling points · Sep 2023 to Jun 2024
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
2.2 ppt avg · max 8.9
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
4.8 ppt avg · max 6.3
HFPO-DA GenX (HFPO-DA)
1.5 ppt avg · max 6.0
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.1 avg · max 0.6
Also detected, no federal limit: PFPeA, PFHxA.
Western Virginia Water Authority is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Roanoke, Virginia, serving about 182,700 people, including Roanoke, Boones Mill, Cloverdale, Daleville, Hardy, Salem. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 38 times across 15 sampling points between Sep 2023 and Jun 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFDA, PFMPA, PFTA, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, PFBA, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFMBA, PFDoA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, PFBS, PFHpS, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFEESA, 8:2 FTS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 22.8 ppb, detected in 22 of 38 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
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
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Virginia
All 171 tested systems in Virginia
ZIP codes served
24002 24010 24011 24012 24013 24014 24015 24016 24017 24018 24019 24022 24037 24042 24065 24077 24083 24101 24153 24157 24175 24179
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 Western Virginia Water Authority water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID VA2770900. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/virginia/western-virginia-water-authority/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID VA2770900). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
