Tap water and drinking water quality in Fairfax, VA

WATER QUALITY REPORT

Fairfax County Water Quality 2026

Q: Is Fairfax tap water safe to drink in 2026?

Fairfax earns Water Safety Grade D (54/88) on WaterCheckup - PFAS Above EPA Limit. Known issues include pfas at 21.9 ppt. Certified filtration is strongly recommended.

Q: Does Fairfax water have PFAS?

EPA UCMR5 monitoring for Fairfax (PWSID VA6153625) is on this page. PFAS has been detected in federal monitoring for this system. Only reverse osmosis (NSF 58) or NSF P473-certified filters reliably remove PFAS; standard pitchers do not.

Q: Does Fairfax water have lead?

Lead usually comes from service lines and building plumbing in Fairfax, not the treatment plant. Pre-1986 homes are highest risk. NSF 53-certified pitchers or reverse osmosis remove lead at the tap.

Q: What water filter is best for Fairfax?

For Fairfax's profile (PFAS Above EPA Limit), reverse osmosis covers PFAS, lead, and disinfection byproducts. Renters can use a countertop RO; homeowners often choose under-sink NSF 58 systems ranked on this page.

Fairfax County is one of the largest suburban counties in the US, served by multiple public water systems drawing from the Potomac watershed. EPA UCMR5 monitoring in the county's service area shows PFAS at 21.9 ppt with PFOA and PFOS above federal MCLs. Use the data below to see detected compounds and filter options for Northern Virginia tap water.

See best water filters for lead removal and what filters remove PFAS.

Check water hardness in Fairfax →

WATER PROFILE — Regional Fairfax-area CCR 2024

Hardness

110 mg/L

Moderately Hard

TDS

220 mg/L

Low

7.6

Neutral

Disinfectant

Chloramine

⚠ Standard filters don't remove

Fluoride

0.7 mg/L

Added

Nitrate

1.8 mg/L

Below limit

PFAS at 21.9 pptPFOA and PFOS above EPA MCLsPotomac River watershed runoffLead risk in pre-1986 homes

54/ 88

WATER SAFETY SCORE

Grade: D

Poor

Same score for your ZIP — look up your ZIP for the full contaminant report

⚠️

MONITOR

Based on water safety score

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FAIRFAX WATER

Fairfax water meets EPA legal standards, but legal compliance is not the same as being free of health concerns. The issues flagged below are worth understanding before deciding whether to filter. EPA limits are often set below what independent scientists recommend as safe thresholds.

⚠PFAS at 21.9 ppt

⚠PFOA and PFOS above EPA MCLs

⚠Potomac River watershed runoff

⚠Lead risk in pre-1986 homes

CONTAMINANTS IN FAIRFAX WATER

EPA UCMR5 PFAS plus utility/EWG averages from our contaminant bundle. Run a ZIP report for live SDWIS samples at your address.

PFOA

7.4 ppt (EPA limit 4 ppt)High concern

EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023–2025)

PFOS

5.7 ppt (EPA limit 4 ppt)High concern

EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023–2025)

Chlorate

184.1 ppbLower concern

EWG Tap Water Atlas utility average (2021–2023)

Water Hardness

110 mg/L (EPA limit 150 mg/L)Lower concern

From Regional Fairfax-area CCR 2024

Barium

31.1 ppbLower concern

EWG Tap Water Atlas utility average (2021–2023)

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

27.8 ppb (EPA limit 80 ppb)Lower concern

EWG Tap Water Atlas utility average (2021–2023)

Haloacetic Acids (HAA9)

26.6 ppbLower concern

EWG Tap Water Atlas utility average (2021–2023)

PFPeA

21.5 pptLower concern

EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023–2025)

Chloroform

17.7 ppbLower concern

EWG Tap Water Atlas utility average (2021–2023)

PFBA

17.6 pptLower concern

EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023–2025)

PFHxA

17.1 pptLower concern

EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023–2025)

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)

16.4 ppb (EPA limit 60 ppb)Lower concern

EWG Tap Water Atlas utility average (2021–2023)

Aluminum

10.2 ppbLower concern

EWG Tap Water Atlas utility average (2021–2023)

6:2 FTS

10.1 pptLower concern

EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023–2025)

Dichloroacetic Acid

8.72 ppbLower concern

EWG Tap Water Atlas utility average (2021–2023)

PFBS

8.1 pptLower concern

EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023–2025)

Bromodichloromethane

6.59 ppbLower concern

EWG Tap Water Atlas utility average (2021–2023)

Trichloroacetic Acid

6.41 ppbLower concern

EWG Tap Water Atlas utility average (2021–2023)

For your exact tap, use a ZIP report — home plumbing can differ from utility averages.

EPA UCMR5 monitoring in the Fairfax County area shows PFAS at 21.9 ppt, with PFOA (7.1 ppt) and PFOS (5.7 ppt) above EPA MCLs.

Northern Virginia public water systems draw from the Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir — surface sources that can carry upstream industrial and military PFAS.

Fairfax County is among the largest suburban counties in the US; water quality varies by public water system district within the county.

Reverse osmosis at the tap is the most reliable way to remove PFAS for households in high-detection areas.

PFAS TESTING DATA — EPA UCMR5

Testing period 2023–2025 · Last updated Q1 2026

🚨

VIOLATIONS DETECTED

Max detected: 21.5 ppt · 8 compounds found · 2 EPA MCL violations

Compound

Level (ppt)

EPA MCL

Health Limit

PFPeA

21.5

—

✓ Within

PFBA

17.6

—

✓ Within

PFHxA

17.1

—

✓ Within

6:2 FTS

10.1

—

✓ Within

PFBS

8.1

—

✓ Within

PFOAregulated

7.4

❌ >4 ppt

❌ Exceeds

PFOSregulated

5.7

❌ >4 ppt

❌ Exceeds

PFHpA

5.6

—

✓ Within

Source: EPA UCMR5 national monitoring dataset · Testing period 2023–2025 · MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (legally enforceable limit) · Health limit = EPA health advisory threshold

🔔 Get alerts if Fairfax's water data changes:

Clean water splash — certified water filter recommendations

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

Based on Fairfax's water profile above, here's the exact system we recommend — and why it's right for this water supply specifically.

Recommendations by Joe Letorney, 30-year water treatment specialist →

TOP PICKS FOR FAIRFAX

⚠ Contaminants detected in local water

Aquasana SmartFlow RO

MOST CERTIFIED

Aquasana · ~$449

WQA Gold Seal + NSF 42/53/58/401. Most certifications of any under-sink RO. Removes 90+ contaminants.

WHY THIS FOR FAIRFAX · Chosen for Fairfax because PFAS was detected at 21.5 ppt in EPA UCMR5 monitoring — above the 4 ppt federal limit — and lead service lines add additional risk. RO removes 99%+ of both at the tap.

Amazon →

AquaTru Under-Sink RO

EASIEST FILTER CHANGE

AquaTru · ~$375

NSF 42/53/58 certified. Quick-change filters, no tools. Compact tankless design, 4-stage filtration.

Amazon →

Not sure which filter is right for you? Take the 3-question quiz →

WATER SYSTEM -- EPA SDWIS

System Name

Fairfax County area water systems (Dale City / regional)

EPA PWSID

VA6059501

Population Served

1.1M

State

COMMON QUESTIONS

Is Fairfax tap water safe to drink in 2026?

Fairfax water meets EPA legal standards, but meeting legal standards is not the same as being free of health concerns. EPA limits are set based on treatment feasibility, not always on what independent scientists consider safe. Fairfax has pfas at 21.9 ppt which is a significant concern — certified filtration is strongly recommended.

Does Fairfax water have PFAS?

EPA UCMR5 monitoring data for Fairfax (water system VA6153625) is shown above. PFAS — sometimes called "forever chemicals" — are synthetic compounds that don't break down in the body. Only reverse osmosis systems or NSF 58-certified carbon block filters reliably remove PFAS from tap water. Standard pitcher filters do not remove PFAS.

Does Fairfax water have lead?

Lead in tap water almost always comes from the pipes inside your home or building, not the treatment plant. Homes built before 1986 in Fairfax are most at risk because they may have lead solder, brass fittings, or lead service lines. The EPA has no safe level for lead in children. An NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter or reverse osmosis system removes lead at the tap.

What water filter is best for Fairfax?

For Fairfax's water profile — pfas at 21.9 ppt, pfoa and pfos above epa mcls — a reverse osmosis system addresses the widest range of contaminants. Under-sink RO (Waterdrop G3P600, Aquasana SmartFlow) is the gold standard for homeowners. Renters can use a countertop RO like the Waterdrop K19-S Countertop RO — zero installation required. Clearly Filtered pitchers are the best non-RO option for PFAS and lead.

How do I get my Fairfax water tested?

For the most accurate results for your specific tap, use a certified mail-in lab test rather than relying on city-wide data. SimpleLab Tap Score tests for 100+ contaminants including PFAS, lead, arsenic, and nitrates. Results come with a detailed health assessment and filter recommendations. City-wide EPA data like what you see above is a strong baseline, but your home's plumbing can add contaminants after the water leaves the treatment plant.

LEAD SERVICE LINE RISK

Does your street have lead pipes?

As of October 2024, all US public water systems must publish a public inventory of their lead service lines — the pipes connecting the water main to your home. Even if your public water system water tests clean at the treatment plant, lead can leach from these pipes into your tap. Homes built before 1986 are most at risk.

EPA Official Service Line Inventory →

Federal LCRR inventory data for Fairfax County area water systems (Dale City / regional) · PWSID VA6153625

💡 Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder or service lines. A filter certified NSF/ANSI 53 removes lead at the tap regardless of pipe material.

STAY INFORMED

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City-wide data is just the start. Enter your ZIP to see your exact water system's EPA report, PFAS levels, and violation history — then get the right filter for your home.

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