Chesterfield County, Virginia: drinking water report. Chesterfield County sits south of Richmond in central Virginia with a population of about 370,000.
Chesterfield County sits south of Richmond in central Virginia with a population of about 370,000. The county operates its own water system, drawing from the Appomattox River via the Appomattox River Water Authority and supplementing with the James River through the Richmond regional system. The county's growth has pushed water demand upward, and the treatment infrastructure is working to keep pace with suburban expansion.
The Appomattox River watershed receives agricultural runoff and treated wastewater from upstream communities. According to the Virginia DEQ's 2024 water quality assessment, the river carries elevated nutrient levels and seasonal turbidity spikes that increase treatment complexity. Disinfection byproducts – trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids – are the primary compliance concern, particularly during warm months when organic loading peaks.
The former Defense General Supply Center (now part of the Defense Logistics Agency complex) straddles the Chesterfield-Henrico county line and has confirmed PFAS contamination. The EPA's UCMR5 data shows PFAS detections in the Chesterfield system. A 2024 VDH monitoring report documented PFAS at levels near Virginia's combined standard of 10 ppt in one sampling point within the county's distribution network.
Summer heat pushes disinfection byproduct levels higher in Chesterfield County. If your water has a noticeable chlorine taste during July and August, it reflects the treatment plant working harder against elevated organic matter in the source water.
Check your water for the latest data on your area. For disinfection byproducts, a carbon block filter reduces both the taste and the compounds. For PFAS, reverse osmosis is more effective. Our water filter guide explains which systems handle each contaminant type. Pull your detailed report for trends, and visit our Virginia page for statewide data.