Roanoke, VA Water Quality Report

Is Roanoke tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Roanoke, Virginia. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Roanoke tap water safe to drink? Roanoke tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 11.79 ppt across 6 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Roanoke water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Roanoke water: lithium (22.8 ppt), PFOS (0.01 ppt), PFOA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Roanoke? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Roanoke Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Roanoke drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 22.8 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 11.79 ppt across 6 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.

Top Detected Compounds

  • lithium: 22.8 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOS: 0.01 ppt
  • PFOA: 0.01 ppt
  • HFPO-DA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFPeA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Roanoke Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 11 lead samples for Roanoke water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0113 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Roanoke

Roanoke public water systems have 5 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Combined Radium (226+228), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Roanoke: approximately 100,011.

ZIP Codes Served

24001, 24002, 24003, 24011, 24012

What Roanoke Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually