01The verdict: is New Market water safe?
Based on EPA testing data, New Market's tap water is generally safe to drink. The water system earned a grade of A (94.8/100), meeting federal drinking water standards across key contaminant categories. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,274 residents using groundwater (wells).
Nothing over a legal limit
Every contaminant measured in New Market's water is within its EPA limit, and no violations are unresolved.
See the testing ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓A flood-prone service area
8 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓New Market's drinking water received a grade of A (94.8 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,274 residents using ground water under influence.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 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 15 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.
New Market ranks #15 out of 229 cities in Virginia for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state. New Market relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. As a small community water system, New Market may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in New Market's water
Every contaminant flagged in New Market, 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. | 0.0 | 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
03New Market'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 15 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for New Market.
▼ Down 12 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2025) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where New Market's water comes from
New Market's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Ground Water Under Influence
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
2,274 people
Residents served across New Market's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 2,274 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEW MARKET, TOWN OF | VA2171600 | 2,274 | Ground Water Under Influence |
Water bodies near New Market
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on New Market'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
5 facilities within 10 miles reported 202k 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.
Flood & storm history
8 federal disaster declarations on record for Shenandoah County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Shenandoah County is in D1 (moderate 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 New Market compares
Scores for nearby Virginia cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Virginia average (85/100)
New Market scores 94.8/100 — above the Virginia average of 85/100. It outscores 10 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 New Market's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
New Market'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 New Market alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is New Market, VA tap water safe to drink?
New Market's water quality earned a grade of A (94.8/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #15 out of 229 cities tested in Virginia.
What contaminants are in New Market's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 15 violations are on record.
How is New Market'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 New Market?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does New Market's water come from?
New Market's water is sourced from Ground water under influence. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,274 residents.
Is New Market's groundwater at risk of contamination?
New Market uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 15 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does New Market's water compare to other cities?
New Market ranks #15 out of 229 cities in Virginia (better than 93% of state cities) and #422 out of 15382 cities nationally (97th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does New Market's small water system affect quality?
New Market's system serves approximately 2,274 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 15 violations on record.