Is tap water safe in Petersburg?

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 Petersburg, VA?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 20.6 ppm (1.2 grains per gallon), classified as soft. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 23803?

There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm conditions with an at-home hardness test before purchasing equipment.

City water profile

Petersburg water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

21PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 20.5–20.6 PPM

State comparison: 13 PPM below
State hardness rank: #34 of 37
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Petersburg has 2 published ZIP profiles across Dinwiddie County and Prince George County. The indexed median is 21 PPM, compared with 34 PPM across Virginia.

Among the 37 Virginiacities with an indexed median, Petersburg ranks #34from highest to lowest. Across all 133 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 9to 253 PPM.

The 20.5–20.6 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft2 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 7.8 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Jan 5, 2016 to Jun 30, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Petersburg

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

23803

Soft

20.6 PPM

Nearest site: 0.7 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

23805

Soft

20.5 PPM

Nearest site: 7.8 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Petersburg, City Of

PWSID VA3730750

Surface water

System population served: 33,394
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
TTHM	VA3730750	Apr 1, 2024	Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	VA3730750	Apr 1, 2024	Resolved
Chlorite	VA3730750	Apr 1, 2024	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

Richmond

Richmond City County

21 PPM median

Colonial Heights

Chesterfield County

21 PPM median

Hopewell

Prince George County

21 PPM median

Williamsburg

James City County

20 PPM median

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach City County

22 PPM median

Appomattox

Appomattox County

27 PPM median

Search all 37 Virginia cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Petersburg

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 21 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.