01The verdict: is Radford water safe?
Radford's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (90/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 3 water systems serve approximately 1,722 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
1 unresolved violation on record
EPA records show an open compliance item 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 ↓6 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 ↓Radford's drinking water received a grade of A (90 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 3 water systems serve approximately 1,722 residents using 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 21 violations on record, including 7 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
Radford ranks #62 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. As a small community water system, Radford may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 6 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Radford's water
Every contaminant flagged in Radford, 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
03Radford'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 21 violations on record, including 7 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
8 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 5.4 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0.58 ppb (2026) — 4% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Radford's water comes from
Radford's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
3 systems
3 water systems (1 wholesaler), operated under federal ownership.
1,722 people
Residents served across Radford'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 federal ownership and serves approximately 1,722 people through 3 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| RADFORD ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT | VA1121643 | 1,602 | Surface Water |
| LAKEVIEW WATERWORKS | VA1155441 | 120 | Groundwater |
| NRV REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY | VA1121057 | — | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Radford
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Radford's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Radford'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 11,917k 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.
Drought
Montgomery County is in D3 (extreme 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 Radford compares
Scores for nearby Virginia cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Virginia average (85/100)
Radford scores 90/100 — on par with the Virginia average of 85/100. It outscores 7 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 Radford's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Radford'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 Radford 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 Radford, VA tap water safe to drink?
Radford's water quality earned a grade of A (90/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #62 out of 229 cities tested in Virginia.
What contaminants are in Radford's water?
Lead was measured at 0.6 ppb (90th percentile). 21 violations are on record.
How is Radford'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 Radford?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Radford's water come from?
Radford's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 3 water systems serving approximately 1,722 residents.
What health violations has Radford's water system had?
Radford has 7 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in December 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 1 violation remains unresolved.
How does Radford's water compare to other cities?
Radford ranks #62 out of 229 cities in Virginia (better than 73% of state cities) and #2464 out of 15382 cities nationally (84th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.