Virginia Beach Puts Tap Water to the Test

Visitors to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk recently put their taste buds to work in a blind taste testing between bottled water and our local tap water. 

We’re proud to say that Virginia Beach tap water came out on top! 

Water Taste Test Results 

• 35 participants preferred tap water 
• 31 participants preferred bottled water 
• 2 participants could not taste a difference between the two samples 

Why Choose Tap Water? 

While taste preferences may vary slightly, there is a significant difference between the cost of tap water and bottled water. In Virginia Beach, you can refill a standard 20-ounce reusable water bottle over 1,500 times for the cost of just one average single-use bottle of water. Drinking tap water also cuts down on plastic waste produced by bottled water. 

Virginia Beach Public Utilities is committed to delivering safe, high-quality drinking water to your tap all day, every day. Our tap water meets all state and federal drinking water standards. 

By choosing tap water, you’re saving money, reducing plastic waste, and supporting a sustainable future! 

Where Does Virginia Beach Tap Water Come From? 

Virginia Beach’s tap water starts at Lake Gaston in Brunswick County and flows through a 76-mile-long pipeline to Lake Prince in Suffolk, a reservoir managed by the City of Norfolk.  

From the reservoir, water is pumped to Norfolk’s Moore’s Bridges Water Treatment Plant, where it’s carefully filtered and disinfected for bacteria, algae and other impurities before being pumped to Virginia Beach’s water distribution system.  

Once treated, water quality is ensured through continual monitoring and testing at the treatment plant and throughout the distribution system. 

Check out the 2025 Water Quality Report for more information about your tap water! 

• Water Quality
• Public Utilities