PFAS · Virginia
PFAS in Virginia drinking water: EPA’s final survey results
EPA’s national PFAS survey (UCMR 5) tested 164 of the community water systems that serve homes in Virginia. 50 found at least one of 29 PFAS above the laboratory reporting level, and 12 had a PFOA or PFOS sampling-location yearly average at or above EPA’s 4.0 ppt limit. Samples were collected from January 2023 to March 2026.
Data as of EPA UCMR 5 final release, August 2026 (file dated Aug 28, 2026) · EPA SDWIS 2026Q2 (file dated Jul 9, 2026). How we build these pages
PFPeA was the compound Virginia community systems found most often: 36 of 164 tested systems measured it above the reporting level. Across the country, 35% of surveyed community systems found at least one PFAS; in Virginia the share is 30%. The largest Virginia system with a detection, Fairfax County Water Authority, serves 1,121,613 people and found 8 of the 29 compounds.
Which PFAS were found most often in Virginia
Each row counts the Virginia community water systems where that compound was measured above the reporting level at least once. A detection is a measurement, not a violation: most of these compounds have no federal limit.
| Compound | Systems where found | Systems tested | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFPeA | 36 | 164 | 22% |
| PFHxA | 30 | 164 | 18% |
| PFBA | 21 | 164 | 13% |
| PFBS | 15 | 164 | 9% |
| PFOS | 15 | 164 | 9% |
| PFOA | 13 | 164 | 8% |
| PFHxS | 10 | 164 | 6% |
| PFHpA | 7 | 164 | 4% |
| 6:2 FTS | 2 | 164 | 1% |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | 2 | 164 | 1% |
| PFDA | 1 | 164 | 1% |
| PFNA | 1 | 164 | 1% |
Virginia systems with the most PFAS found
The 10 surveyed community water systems that found the most different PFAS, with PFOA and PFOS compared to EPA’s 4.0 ppt limits on the yearly average at the highest sampling location. Larger systems come first when counts tie.
| Water system | People served | PFAS found (of 29) | PFOA | PFOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bealeton Regional VA6061129 | 4,250 | 10 | 23.1 ppt at or above the MCL | 14.7 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Fairfax County Water Authority VA6059501 | 1,121,613 | 8 | 4.6 ppt at or above the MCL | 2.6 ppt below the MCL |
| Purcellville, Town of VA6107600 | 8,929 | 8 | 10.4 ppt at or above the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Pwcsa - East VA6153600 | 168,747 | 7 | 5.0 ppt at or above the MCL | 3.98 ppt below the MCL |
| Dale City VA6153625 | 72,062 | 7 | 4.4 ppt at or above the MCL | 2.6 ppt below the MCL |
| Fort Belvoir VA6059450 | 39,303 | 7 | 4.5 ppt at or above the MCL | 3.0 ppt below the MCL |
| New Baltimore Regional VA6061318 | 8,818 | 6 | 2.4 ppt below the MCL | 11.8 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Ncsa - Wintergreen VA2125910 | 6,861 | 6 | 10.8 ppt at or above the MCL | 11.7 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Newport News, City of VA3700500 | 407,300 | 5 | — not detected above the reporting level | 2.3 ppt below the MCL |
| Western Virginia Water Authority VA2770900 | 182,700 | 5 | 2.2 ppt below the MCL | 4.8 ppt at or above the MCL |
Counties with the most systems that found PFAS
- Fairfax County 4 of 4 surveyed systems
- Loudoun County 4 of 5 surveyed systems
- Prince William County 4 of 5 surveyed systems
- Fauquier County 4 of 4 surveyed systems
- Caroline County 2 of 2 surveyed systems
- Franklin County 2 of 2 surveyed systems
- Chesterfield County 1 of 1 surveyed systems
- Arlington County 1 of 1 surveyed systems