We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Virginia to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 34 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Alexandria water report →Vienna, Virginia
Vienna has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 32 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Vienna water report →Ft. Eustis, Virginia
Ft. Eustis has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ft. Eustis water report →Arlington, Virginia
Arlington has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 37 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Arlington water report →Hopewell, Virginia
Hopewell has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 35 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hopewell water report →Woodbridge, Virginia
Woodbridge has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Woodbridge water report →Herndon, Virginia
Herndon has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 32 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Herndon water report →Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 37 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Roanoke water report →Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Virginia Beach water report →Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Norfolk water report →Fort Eustis, Virginia
Fort Eustis has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fort Eustis water report →Ashburn, Virginia
Ashburn has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ashburn water report →Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Fort Belvoir has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fort Belvoir water report →Lovingston, Virginia
Lovingston has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lovingston water report →Henrico, Virginia
Henrico has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Henrico water report →Culpeper, Virginia
Culpeper has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Culpeper water report →Goochland, Virginia
Goochland has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Goochland water report →Chatham, Virginia
Chatham has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Chatham water report →Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Leesburg water report →Winchester, Virginia
Winchester has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Winchester water report →Danville, Virginia
Danville has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Danville water report →Stephens City, Virginia
Stephens City has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Stephens City water report →Middletown, Virginia
Middletown has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Middletown water report →Horntown, Virginia
Horntown has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 17 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Horntown water report →Newport News, Virginia
Newport News has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Newport News water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 344 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 1 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 343 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandria | VA | 34 | 16 | 0 | 159,200 |
| 2 | Vienna | VA | 32 | 16 | 0 | 30,000 |
| 3 | Ft. Eustis | VA | 26 | 16 | 0 | 2,510 |
| 4 | Arlington | VA | 37 | 15 | 0 | 215,000 |
| 5 | Hopewell | VA | 35 | 15 | 1 | 72,062 |
| 6 | Woodbridge | VA | 33 | 15 | 0 | 168,747 |
| 7 | Herndon | VA | 32 | 15 | 0 | 1,121,613 |
| 8 | Roanoke | VA | 37 | 14 | 0 | 182,700 |
| 9 | Virginia Beach | VA | 24 | 14 | 0 | 437,994 |
| 10 | Norfolk | VA | 24 | 14 | 0 | 234,220 |
| 11 | Fort Eustis | VA | 28 | 13 | 0 | 16,900 |
| 12 | Ashburn | VA | 25 | 13 | 0 | 334,808 |
| 13 | Fort Belvoir | VA | 24 | 13 | 0 | 37,000 |
| 14 | Lovingston | VA | 24 | 13 | 0 | 6,861 |
| 15 | Henrico | VA | 23 | 13 | 0 | 292,000 |
| 16 | Culpeper | VA | 23 | 13 | 0 | 21,184 |
| 17 | Goochland | VA | 23 | 13 | 0 | 19,500 |
| 18 | Chatham | VA | 22 | 13 | 0 | 4,145 |
| 19 | Leesburg | VA | 21 | 13 | 0 | 65,028 |
| 20 | Winchester | VA | 21 | 13 | 0 | 46,206 |
| 21 | Danville | VA | 21 | 13 | 0 | 43,055 |
| 22 | Stephens City | VA | 21 | 13 | 0 | 1,967 |
| 23 | Middletown | VA | 19 | 13 | 0 | 1,390 |
| 24 | Horntown | VA | 17 | 13 | 0 | 495 |
| 25 | Newport News | VA | 26 | 12 | 0 | 407,300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Virginia?
Based on 2026 data, Alexandria, VA has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
