01The verdict: is Covington water safe?
Covington's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (85.7/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 7 water systems serve approximately 8,691 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
3 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.6 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓10 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Covington's drinking water received a grade of A- (85.7 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 7 water systems serve approximately 8,691 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.6 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 18 violations on record, including 5 health-based violations. 3 remain unresolved.
Covington ranks #102 out of 229 cities in Virginia for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. The system has seen 10 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Covington's water
Every contaminant flagged in Covington, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.6 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Virginia
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Virginia
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Covington's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 18 violations on record, including 5 health-based violations. 3 remain unresolved.
7 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 3.5 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 1.5 ppb (2024) — 10% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Covington's water comes from
Covington's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
7 systems
7 water systems, operated under local government ownership.
8,691 people
Residents served across Covington's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 8,691 people through 7 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| POUNDING MILL | VA2005600 | 1,965 | Purchased Surface Water |
| SELMA / LOW MOOR / VALLEY RIDGE | VA2005840 | 1,884 | Purchased Surface Water |
| CLIFTONDALE PARK/ WILSON CREEK/ SHARON | VA2005160 | 1,860 | Purchased Surface Water |
| INTERVALE/CLEARWATER PARK | VA2005440 | 1,332 | Purchased Surface Water |
| ROSEDALE/CALLAGHAN | VA2005800 | 858 | Purchased Surface Water |
| CHEROKEE | VA2005095 | 504 | Purchased Surface Water |
| WESGATE | VA2005950 | 288 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Covington
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Covington's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Covington's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Industrial discharge
2 facilities within 10 miles reported 56k lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Superfund proximity
1 National Priorities List site within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily indicate tap-water contamination — the connection depends on hydrology and treatment.
Drought
Alleghany County is in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Covington compares
Scores for nearby Virginia cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Virginia average (85/100)
Covington scores 85.7/100 — on par with the Virginia average of 85/100. It outscores 6 of 10 nearby cities. Full Virginia rankings →
75.5 / 100AVirginia Beach City, VA
90.8 / 100ANewport News City, VA
85.6 / 100BChesterfield, VA
80.7 / 100AAshburn, VA
87 / 100AHenrico, VA
92.8 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Covington's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Covington's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Covington alerts
We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Covington, VA tap water safe to drink?
Covington's water quality earned a grade of A- (85.7/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #102 out of 229 cities tested in Virginia.
What contaminants are in Covington's water?
Lead was measured at 0.6 ppb (90th percentile). 18 violations are on record.
How is Covington's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Covington?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Covington's water come from?
Covington's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 7 water systems serving approximately 8,691 residents.
What health violations has Covington's water system had?
Covington has 5 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in February 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 3 violations remain unresolved.
How does Covington's water compare to other cities?
Covington ranks #102 out of 229 cities in Virginia (better than 55% of state cities) and #5112 out of 15382 cities nationally (67th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.