Water, Water Everywhere.. and Yes, the Tap is Safe to Drink

Ever wondered about the quality of our drinking water in Virginia Beach? The 2023 Virginia Beach Water Quality Report can tell you all about it. Detailing water quality data compiled in 2022, this year’s report shows our city’s water is of a higher quality than that required by all state and federal health and safety standards for drinking water.​

Where Does My Water Come From?

The Lake Gaston Water Supply Pipeline provides water to Virginia Beach residents through a 76-mile-long pipeline leading from Lake Gaston in Brunswick County, North Carolina to Lake Prince, a reservoir located in Suffolk but owned and operated by Norfolk.

From the reservoirs, water is pumped to the treatment plant, where it undergoes an extensive filtering and disinfection process to remove any particles, bacteria, algae, and other impurities. The Moores Bridges Water Treatment Plant uses state-of-the-art treatment technology and ensures water quality through continual monitoring and testing.

Why Treat Water?

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include lakes, ponds, reservoirs, rivers, springs, streams, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring organic and inorganic substances. Water also picks up contaminants from animals and human activity.

Disinfection is an essential part of the water treatment process, preventing the occurrence and spread of many water-borne diseases. Norfolk’s Moores Bridges Water Treatment Plant treats our source water, testing it for 120 substances. Further testing is performed daily throughout Virginia Beach’s water distribution system. An average of 273 water quality samples are collected and analyzed monthly, providing continual monitoring for the highest water quality possible.

Is the Water Safe for Everyone?

Virginia Beach water meets all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standards. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA has developed regulations limiting the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.

Virginia Beach Public Utilities is committed to delivering safe, high-quality drinking water to your tap all day, every day. To read the report in detail, visit virginiabeach.gov/water-quality. Physical copies of the report are available at the Public Utilities Business Office and all Virginia Beach public libraries and recreation centers. Residents can also request to receive a copy by mail at (757) 385-4948.