PFAS in Newport News, City of water (Virginia)

Elevated — PFOA/PFOS detected above the federal reference level

5 PFAS compounds detected
Highest: PFBA 6.2 ppt
Federal reference: 4 ppt (PFOA/PFOS)

Based on highest single EPA UCMR 5 detections (2023–2025). Not a compliance or health determination.

Newport News, City of is a large public water system serving more than 10,000 people in Virginia (ZIP codes 23185, 23188, 23601, 23602, 23603, 23605, …). EPA UCMR 5 monitoring (2023–2025) detected 5 PFAS compounds in its water, the highest being PFBA at 6.2 ppt. This includes PFOS at 6.1 ppt. This page shows every detected level and the certified filters that reduce PFAS.

What was detected

Each figure is the highest single detected level recorded for that compound — not an average.

PFAS compoundHighest detected levelContext
PFBA 6.2 ppt
PFOS 6.1 ppt above reference — federal reference level: 4 ppt
PFHxS 5 ppt
PFPeA 5 ppt
PFHxA 4.9 ppt

For context, the U.S. EPA has set a federal reference level of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and for PFOS; it is shown beside those compounds above purely as a reference point.

How to reduce PFAS in this water

Your only flagged issue is PFAS / PFOA / PFOS, which harms you through what you drink — not through bathing or showering. A certified under-sink reverse-osmosis system (~$300–$600) is the correct, certified way to remove it. A $1,500–$4,000 whole-house system would be overkill here and still wouldn’t be the certified method for these contaminants.

Certified point-of-use filters (the practical, certified fix)

AquaTru Classic Countertop RO Third-party certified
$400–$600
  • ✓ Certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS (for PFOA/PFOS; current certifications do not yet guarantee removal to EPA’s newest limits).
Certification: IAPMO R&T — NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 58, 401, P473 (PFOA/PFOS)
View AquaTru →
Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis (AQ-SFRO) Third-party certified
$300–$450
  • ✓ Certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS (for PFOA/PFOS; current certifications do not yet guarantee removal to EPA’s newest limits).
Certification: WQA — NSF/ANSI 42, 53 (incl. P473), 58, 401 + CSA B483.1
View Aquasana →
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO Third-party certified
$500–$900

Tankless under-sink reverse osmosis, certified to NSF/ANSI 58 (RO) and 372. Some configurations add NSF 42/53 — confirm the exact SKU's listing before making a contaminant-specific claim.

Certification: IAPMO R&T — NSF/ANSI 58 & 372 (base unit); some SKUs add 42 & 53 — VERIFY the exact SKU
View Waterdrop →

If you want PFAS reduced at every tap (optional)

Point-of-use reverse osmosis above is the default, certified answer for PFAS. If you specifically want reduction at every tap, these are the whole-house units with a genuine third-party certification for PFOA/PFOS — an optional add-on, not a necessity.

US Water Systems Pioneer (Lead/Cyst/PFOA/PFOS) Third-party certified
$1,500–$2,500
  • ✓ Certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS (for PFOA/PFOS; current certifications do not yet guarantee removal to EPA’s newest limits).
Certification: Third-party certified to NSF/ANSI 53 (lead/cyst) + NSF/ANSI P473 (PFOA/PFOS)
View US Water Systems →
Aquasana OptimH2O Whole-House (Lead/PFOA/PFOS) Third-party certified
$1,500–$2,500
  • ✓ Certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS (for PFOA/PFOS; current certifications do not yet guarantee removal to EPA’s newest limits).
Certification: IAPMO R&T — NSF/ANSI 53 (lead, cysts) + NSF/ANSI P473 (PFOA/PFOS)
View Aquasana →
Next step for your home: levels vary by tap and over time, so confirm your own water with a test, then get a tailored recommendation. Test your water first · Run the selector · Whole-house vs. under-sink for PFAS · Learn about PFAS

Other Virginia water systems tested

EPA UCMR 5 also detected PFOA or PFOS at or above 6 ppt in these large Virginia systems:

All 8 Virginia systems →