Suffolk's municipal drinking water comes primarily from Lake Prince and Lake Burnt Mills, two surface water reservoirs owned by the City of Norfolk. The water is treated by the City of Suffolk Water Treatment Plant using filtration and electrodialysis reversal (EDR) before being distributed throughout the city. Many rural areas outside the city water system rely on private wells.

Suffolk'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 chloramines, 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. Suffolk also adjusts water chemistry to help protect the distribution system, reduce corrosion, and maintain water quality throughout the system.

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. Suffolk'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, chloramine byproducts, PFAS, fluoride, and other contaminants while improving the taste and quality of drinking water.

Suffolk's municipal water is generally considered soft, typically measuring less than 60 mg/L of hardness. Most homes do not require a traditional water softener for hardness removal, although some homeowners still choose one for softer-feeling water and improved soap lather. Others prefer whole home filtration or scale protection based on their personal preferences.

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 briefly before using it for drinking or cooking and installing appropriate filtration can help improve water quality.

We encourage homeowners to review the City of Suffolk 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.

Many homes throughout Suffolk 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.