Richmond – Virginia – Water Quality Report 2025: PFAS Testing, Infrastructure Concerns & Safety across your city
Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU) provides water services to approximately 197,000 residents in the city and surrounding areas including Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Goochland, and Powhatan counties through wholesale contracts. The water system has operated since 1924 when the current treatment plant was built on the banks of the James River, replacing earlier water sources that included natural springs and streams flowing from the Capitol area. The system encompasses over 1,200 miles of water distribution lines and can produce up to 132 million gallons per day from the James River water treatment facility.
Richmond draws its drinking water exclusively from the James River at a treatment plant located on Douglasdale Road. However, the system has faced significant challenges in recent years, including a major water crisis in January 2025 caused by power failures during a winter storm, and subsequent issues requiring boil water advisories as recently as May 2025. The Virginia Department of Health has determined these failures were “completely avoidable” and has issued violations requiring corrective action plans. Despite ongoing infrastructure improvements and investments in treatment technology, Richmond residents continue to face water reliability concerns as the city works to address operational and infrastructure deficiencies.
Richmond Water Quality: Current Status (2024-2025)
Recent System Challenges
- January 2025 Water Crisis: A winter storm-related power outage caused flooding at the treatment plant, leading to nearly a week-long boil water advisory affecting over 230,000 Richmond residents and surrounding counties.
- May 2025 Boil Water Advisory: Filter clogging at the treatment plant caused water pressure drops, resulting in another boil water advisory for neighborhoods served by the Ginter Park tank system.
- State Violations: The Virginia Department of Health issued violations declaring the water crises “completely avoidable” and requiring implementation of corrective action plans.
Water Source and Treatment
- James River Source: Richmond draws all drinking water from the James River at the treatment plant on Douglasdale Road, making it vulnerable to river water quality fluctuations.
- High Susceptibility Rating: The Virginia Department of Health assessed Richmond’s water source as having “high susceptibility to contamination” due to upstream activities and environmental factors.
- Treatment Process: Water undergoes multi-stage treatment including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection before distribution through the system.
Infrastructure Concerns
- Single Point of Failure: The January crisis revealed critical vulnerabilities including reliance on single power sources and inadequate backup systems that were not properly maintained.
- Aging Systems: Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) battery backups were past their design lives and non-functional, contributing to system failures during emergencies.
- Manual Operation Dependency: The treatment plant relies heavily on manual operations rather than automated systems, requiring more skilled personnel during critical events.
Current Improvements
- Power System Upgrades: DPU has stopped operating in cost-saving “winter mode” that created single points of failure and is upgrading to dual power feed systems.
- Backup Generator Automation: Diesel backup generators are being upgraded to automatic operation with expected completion by October 2025.
- Battery System Replacement: New UPS battery backup systems have been installed and properly tested to prevent future power-related failures.
Water Quality Monitoring
Richmond DPU conducts approximately 60,000 water quality tests annually on 15,000 water samples to ensure compliance with EPA and Virginia Department of Health standards. The utility maintains memberships in professional organizations including the American Water Works Association and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. While the water meets federal safety standards when the system is operational, residents have experienced multiple service disruptions and quality concerns. The city provides annual Consumer Confidence Reports detailing water quality data, and residents can request additional information by contacting DPU at 804-646-5224. However, ongoing infrastructure vulnerabilities and recent system failures have raised significant concerns about water reliability and emergency preparedness in Richmond.
Recommendations for Richmond Residents
Stay Informed
Sign up for Richmond’s emergency alerts and follow @RichmondDPU on social media for real-time updates on water advisories. Given recent system failures, stay prepared with emergency water supplies.
Consider Home Filtration
Given recent water quality issues and high source water susceptibility, consider installing NSF-certified filtration systems for drinking and cooking water. Look for systems certified for lead reduction and disinfection byproducts.
Emergency Preparedness
Maintain emergency water supplies (1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days) and know boil water procedures. Recent advisories required boiling water for 1 minute before consumption.
Test Your Water
Given Richmond’s high contamination susceptibility rating, consider independent water testing for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants. Contact DPU at 804-646-5224 for current water quality reports.
Report Issues Immediately
Contact Richmond DPU Customer Service at 804-646-4646 or DPUCustServ@RVA.gov for water quality concerns, pressure problems, or emergency issues. Report problems promptly given recent system vulnerabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Richmond’s tap water safe to drink?
When the system is operating normally, Richmond’s water meets federal and state drinking water standards. However, recent events have raised significant concerns about system reliability.
The January 2025 water crisis left residents without safe drinking water for nearly a week, and a May 2025 incident required another boil water advisory. The Virginia Department of Health has classified Richmond’s water source as having “high susceptibility to contamination” and has issued violations requiring corrective action plans. While DPU conducts extensive testing when operational, residents should stay informed about current advisories and consider backup water sources during emergencies.
What caused Richmond’s recent water crises?
The Virginia Department of Health determined both crises were “completely avoidable” and resulted from:
1. Single points of failure: Operating in “winter mode” with only one power source, eliminating critical redundancy
2. Failed backup systems: Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) batteries were past their design lives and non-functional
3. Inadequate staffing: Insufficient trained personnel during known weather events
4. Poor maintenance: Years of neglect of critical infrastructure components
The May 2025 incident involved filter clogging due to poor raw water quality from the James River. DPU is implementing corrective measures including power system upgrades and automated backup generators.
Should I be concerned about contaminants in Richmond’s water?
Richmond’s water source has been rated as having “high susceptibility to contamination” by the Virginia Department of Health due to several factors:
• James River Source: Surface water sources are more vulnerable to contamination than groundwater sources
• Upstream Activities: Industrial activities, agriculture, and urban runoff can affect water quality
• Combined Sewer Overflows: During heavy rainfall, untreated sewage can enter the James River upstream of the intake
• Aging Infrastructure: Older distribution systems may contribute additional contaminants
While treatment processes are designed to remove contaminants, the high susceptibility rating and recent system failures suggest residents should consider additional precautions such as home filtration systems.
How can I stay informed about water quality issues?
Given recent water crises, staying informed is crucial for Richmond residents:
Official Sources:
• Follow @RichmondDPU on social media for real-time updates
• Sign up for Richmond’s emergency alert system
• Check the RVAH2O website for water quality reports
• Contact DPU Customer Service at 804-646-4646 with concerns
Emergency Preparedness:
• Maintain 3 days of emergency water (1 gallon per person per day)
• Know proper boil water procedures (1 minute rolling boil)
• Have alternative water sources identified
Recent events demonstrate the importance of being prepared for water service disruptions in Richmond.
Contaminants of Concern
Lead and Copper
Source: Corrosion of lead-containing plumbing materials including service lines, solder, and fixtures, particularly in homes built before 1986
Health Effects: Lead exposure can cause serious neurological problems, especially in children, including learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and developmental delays
Current Status: Richmond DPU uses corrosion control methods and conducts regular monitoring at high-risk locations throughout the distribution system EPA Action Levels: 15 ppb for lead and 1.3 ppm for copper
Combined Sewer Overflows
Source: Richmond’s combined sewer system dating to the 1870s releases untreated sewage and stormwater into the James River during heavy rainfall events upstream of the water intake
Health Effects: Bacterial contamination, pathogens, and chemical pollutants that can cause gastrointestinal illness and other health problems if inadequately treated
Current Status: Richmond discharged 1.8 billion gallons of untreated overflow in recent years; the city needs $1.3 billion by 2035 to address infrastructure deficiencies affecting source water quality
Please read – our information
The information presented on cleanairandwater.net is compiled from official water quality reports, trusted news sources, government websites, and public health resources. While we strive for accuracy and thoroughness in our presentations, we are not scientists, engineers, or qualified water quality professionals.
Our mission is to present water quality information in an accessible, real-world format that helps people understand what’s in their water and make informed decisions about their health and safety. We believe that complex environmental information should be available to everyone in a format that’s easy to understand.
We make every effort to ensure our content is current and accurate, but we cannot guarantee that all information is complete or error-free. This website should not replace official communications from your local water utility or health department. We always recommend consulting official sources for the most up-to-date information regarding your specific water system.
Clean Air and Water is not liable for any unintentional errors, omissions, or outdated information. The content on this site is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.
