Alexandria, VA Water Quality Report

Is Alexandria tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Alexandria, Virginia. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Alexandria, VA tap water safe to drink? Alexandria, VA tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 7.32 ppt across 8 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Alexandria, VA water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Alexandria water: PFPeA (21.5 ppt), PFBA (17.6 ppt), PFHxA (17.1 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Alexandria, VA? An NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system is the strongest option, removing 90%+ of PFAS along with lead and arsenic. For renters or smaller households in Alexandria, a pitcher certified to NSF-53 for PFAS (ZeroWater, PUR PLUS) is a practical alternative. Ordinary Brita cartridges are not certified for PFAS.

Alexandria, VA Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Alexandria, VA drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 21.5 ppt across 2 water systems, representing an average of 7.32 ppt across 8 detected compounds. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.

Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFPeA: 21.5 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFBA: 17.6 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHxA: 17.1 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • 6:2 FTS: 10.1 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFBS: 8.1 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)

Lead in Alexandria, VA Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 7 lead samples for Alexandria water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0012 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

About the Data

The numbers on this page are drawn from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), which covers about 10,000 public water systems nationwide, including those serving Alexandria, VA's approximately 160,035 residents.

ZIP Codes Served

22301, 22302, 22303, 22304, 22305

What Alexandria, Virginia Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) your Virginia utility publishes annually