Richmond's Drinking Water: A History
Richmond's Water Treatment Plant was built on the banks of the James River in 1924.
Before then, more than 300 years ago, Richmond's drinking water came from numerous
springs and an open stream flowing from the Capitol across Main Street. Over the years
the plant has been upgraded and enlarged to meet growing demand.
Today, Richmond's Department of Public Utilities' (DPU) water plant can produce up
to 132 million gallons per day (MGD). DPU also provides water to Henrico,
Chesterfield, Hanover, Goochland and Powhatan counties through wholesale contracts.
DPU has invested millions of dollars to ensure it always meets or exceeds federal
regulations as well as the increasing regional demands for reliable, high-quality
drinking water. Water utility employees perform numerous water tests every day
and maintain more than 990 miles of water lines so that when you turn on the tap,
your family will receive water that is clean and safe.
Dedicated to Drinking Water Quality
The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities is
a member of the American Water Works Association, the
American Water Works Association Research Foundation,
and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies.
These organizations are dedicated to furthering knowledge
and research on safe drinking water.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably
be expected to contain at least small amounts of some
substances. The presence of substances does not
necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.
More information about substances and potential health
effects may be obtained by calling the Environmental
Protection Agency ’s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
1-800-426-4791.
Substances Expected to be in Drinking Water
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at
least small amounts of some substances. The presence of substances does not necessarily
indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about substances and
potential health effects may be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
As water travels over land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring
minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material. Water can pick up substances
resulting from the presence of animals or human activity. Substances that may be
present in source water include:
-
Microbial substances such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from domestic
animals, wildlife, septic systems, livestock and sewage treatment plants.
-
Inorganic substances such as salts and metals, which can be naturally
occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic
wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
-
Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources
such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses.
-
Organic chemicals, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals,
which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production,
and can come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.
-
Radioactive substances, which can be naturally occurring or be the result
of oil and gas production and mining activities.
Water treatment significantly reduces the level of these substances in drinking
water. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) regulations limit the amount of certain substances in water provided by
public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits
for substances in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.
Lead
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems,
especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water
is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines
and home plumbing. The City of Richmond is responsible for providing high
quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in
plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you
can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes
or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before using
water for cooking or drinking.
If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water
tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing materials, and steps you
can take to minimize exposure is available from the
Drinking Water Hotline.
For more information about lead in your water, visit Lead In Water.
Cryptosporidium
Crytosporidium is a microbial parasite found in surface water throughout the United States. Sampling was not
required in 2018 as our last sampling found an average of 5.4 Oocysts/100L. This is less than the Action Level of 7.5
Oocysts/100L.
Health Information
Some people may be more vulnerable to certain substances in drinking water than
the general population. Immuno-compromised people - such as those with cancer
who are undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants,
those with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, and some elderly people
and infants - can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should
seek advice from their health care providers about drinking water. EPA/CDC
(Centers for Disease Control) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk
of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial substances are available from
the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Why We Report on Water Quality
The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act requires water utilities to provide
consumers with a yearly report on the source and quality of the water they
drink. You may also find our Water Quality Reports on this page.
The state allows us to monitor for some substances less than once per year
because the concentrations of these substances do not change frequently.
The Virginia Department of Health conducted a source water assessment of
our system during 2002. The Richmond Water Treatment Plant was determined
to be of high susceptibility to contamination, using criteria developed by the
state in its EPA-approved Source Water Assessment Program. The assessment
report consists of maps showing the source water assessment area, an
inventory of known land use activities of concern, and documentation of any
known contamination within the last five years from the date of assessment.
This report is available by contacting the Department of Public Utilities at 646-5777.
Inside the Water Quality Report
These brochures are snapshots of the city’s drinking water quality over the past few years.
Included is information about your water, what it contains and how it compares with
standards mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
the Virginia Department of Health. This report is being provided to comply with
the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act. Landlords, businesses and other property
owners are encouraged to share this drinking water quality report with tenants.
For free additional copies or more information about your water and this
report, call the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities at 646-5224.
For information about public participation opportunities,
visit the DPU website and the
Department of Public Utilities Blog.
Additionally, you may also visit the
city of Richmond blog
for meeting announcements.
Yearly Reports - PDF Format
For More Information
Contact the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities at (804)646-5224 for additional copies of this report. For
more information about Richmond’s water quality, call (804)646-8701.
For general information about drinking water, visit the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website
or call the EPA
at (800)426-4791. You may also refer to the
Virginia Department of Health.
Keeping Citizens Informed!