Is tap water safe in Charlottesville?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Charlottesville, VA?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 175 ppm (10.2 grains per gallon), classified as hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 22902?

At 175 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Charlottesville water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Charlottesville, Virginia.

Median indexed hardness

168PPM

4 indexed ZIPs

Range 161–175 PPM

State comparison: 134 PPM above
State hardness rank: #10 of 37
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Charlottesville has 4 published ZIP profiles across Albemarle County and Charlottesville City County. The indexed median is 168 PPM, compared with 34 PPM across Virginia.

Among the 37 Virginiacities with an indexed median, Charlottesville ranks #10from highest to lowest. Across all 133 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 9to 253 PPM.

The 161–175 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard4 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

4 of 4 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 19.6 miles
Profiles with evidence: 4/4

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 4Low: 0

Charlottesville, City Of

PWSID VA2540500

Surface water

System population served: 46,553
Last reported: May 19, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Revised Total Coliform Rule	VA2540500	Feb 1, 2025	Resolved
Chlorine	VA2540500	Feb 1, 2025	Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule	VA2540500	Oct 27, 2021	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Virginia communities

Galax

Grayson County

172 PPM median

Dryden

Lee County

177 PPM median

Waynesboro

Augusta County

178 PPM median

Staunton

Augusta County

178 PPM median

Norton

Wise County

181 PPM median

Bristol

Bristol City County

184 PPM median

Search all 37 Virginia cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Charlottesville

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 168 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.