Virginia Beach's drinking water comes from Lake Gaston in Brunswick County. Water travels through a 76-mile pipeline to Lake Prince in Suffolk, then is treated at Norfolk's Moores Bridges Water Treatment Plant before being delivered into Virginia Beach's water distribution system.

Virginia Beach's drinking water meets all federal and state drinking water standards. Like nearly every municipal water system, it contains disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, naturally occurring minerals, fluoride, and trace levels of regulated contaminants.

According to the City's annual water quality report, Virginia Beach water is tested throughout the system and treated to remove particles, bacteria, algae, and other impurities. Many homeowners choose whole home filtration and reverse osmosis to further improve taste, odor, and overall water quality.

Water treatment chemicals are added to destroy bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms before the water reaches your home. The treatment process also helps remove particles and impurities and keeps the water protected as it travels through the distribution system.

The reality is that municipal water is about as safe as a public utility can reasonably deliver through miles of underground water mains. The only practical way to further reduce disinfectants and disinfection byproducts is with treatment installed inside your home.

Yes. Virginia Beach reports that its drinking water meets all current federal and state water quality standards.

Many homeowners, however, are looking for more than water that simply meets minimum regulatory requirements. Whole home water filtration and reverse osmosis systems can further reduce chlorine, disinfection byproducts, PFAS, fluoride, and other contaminants while improving the taste and quality of drinking water.

Virginia Beach municipal water is generally considered soft to moderately hard, although hardness can vary based on source water, reservoir conditions, and treatment operations. Many homes benefit most from whole home filtration and reverse osmosis, while some homeowners choose a water softener or scale protection system based on their water quality and personal preferences.

Yes. Even if your water leaves the treatment plant in excellent condition, your home's plumbing can still affect water quality. Older plumbing materials, stagnant water, and aging fixtures can influence taste and may contribute to elevated lead or copper levels in some homes.

Running cold water briefly before using it for drinking or cooking and installing appropriate filtration can help improve water quality.

We encourage homeowners to review the City of Virginia Beach Annual Water Quality Report, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, and the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water to learn more about local water quality and treatment practices.

Most homes in Virginia Beach are served by the City's municipal water system, but some rural properties may rely on private wells.

Because every well is different, we recommend certified laboratory testing before selecting a treatment system. Based on your laboratory results, Patriot Water Systems can recommend a customized solution that may include whole home water filtration, a water softener, iron or sulfur removal, reverse osmosis, or a complete well water treatment system.