Portsmouth's drinking water is supplied by the City of Portsmouth Department of Public Utilities. The city's primary water source is Lake Kilby, a surface water reservoir in Suffolk. During periods of high demand, Portsmouth may also purchase treated water from neighboring regional water systems to supplement its supply.

Portsmouth's drinking water meets all federal and state drinking water standards. Like nearly every municipal water system, it contains disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, naturally occurring minerals, fluoride, and trace levels of regulated contaminants.

According to the City's annual water quality report, treated water contains chlorine disinfectants, trihalomethanes (TTHMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), fluoride, and naturally occurring minerals, all within current EPA regulations. Many homeowners choose whole home water filtration and reverse osmosis to further improve taste, odor, and overall water quality.

Water treatment chemicals are added to destroy bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms before the water reaches your home. Portsmouth also adjusts water chemistry to help protect the distribution system and reduce pipe corrosion.

The reality is that municipal water is about as safe as a public utility can reasonably deliver through miles of underground water mains. The only practical way to further reduce disinfectants and disinfection byproducts is with treatment installed inside your home.

Yes. Portsmouth's drinking water meets all EPA and Virginia Department of Health drinking water standards.

Many homeowners, however, are looking for more than water that simply meets minimum regulatory requirements. Whole home water filtration and reverse osmosis systems can further reduce chlorine, disinfection byproducts, PFAS, fluoride, and other contaminants while improving the taste and quality of drinking water.

Portsmouth's municipal water is generally considered soft to moderately hard, although hardness can vary throughout the year depending on reservoir conditions and treatment operations. Many homeowners choose whole home filtration and reverse osmosis, while others prefer a water softener or scale protection system for softer-feeling water and additional protection against mineral buildup.

Yes. Even if your water leaves the treatment plant in excellent condition, your home's plumbing can still affect water quality. Older plumbing materials, stagnant water, and aging fixtures can influence taste and may contribute to elevated lead or copper levels in some homes.

Running cold water for a short time before using it for drinking or cooking and installing appropriate filtration can help improve water quality.

We encourage homeowners to review the City of Portsmouth Annual Drinking Water Quality Report, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, and the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water to learn more about local water quality and treatment practices.

Most homes in Portsmouth are served by the City's municipal water system, but a small number of properties may rely on private wells.

Because every well is different, we recommend certified laboratory testing before selecting a treatment system. Based on your laboratory results, Patriot Water Systems can recommend a customized solution that may include whole home water filtration, a water softener, iron or sulfur removal, reverse osmosis, or a complete well water treatment system.