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Is Bristol, VA tap water safe?

2 utilities serve Bristol, by EPA’s records. Here is what EPA’s and CDC’s records show for each, against the legal limits and the stricter health goals.

Matched to your utility using EPA records.

The short answer

Neither of the 2 utilities serving Bristol has a result above a legal limit or action level, or a health-based violation since 2016, in EPA’s and CDC’s records.

Washington County Service Authority, which serves the most people here, has nothing above a health goal in EPA’s and CDC’s records. That data covers what its report lists, not everything.

A town can be served by more than one utility, and some homes are on private wells. The name on your water bill tells you which is yours, and your ZIP code narrows it down. They are listed by how many people each serves in Bristol’s ZIP codes, from EPA’s estimates.

Water testing near Bristol

A utility tests the water it sends out. A test of your own tap shows what your pipes add, and on a private well it is the only test there is. It takes a lab Virginia certifies.

The 3 labs Virginia certifies closest to Bristol, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Washington County Service Authority

    Abingdon, VA · about 13 miles

    Certified for bacteria

  • The Town of Lebanon Water - Wastewater Laboratory

    Lebanon, VA · about 16 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (276) 889-7206

  • Environmental Monitoring, Inc.

    Norton, VA · about 35 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics

    (276) 679-6544

Virginia Household Water Quality Program, Virginia Cooperative Extension: Drinking water clinics in about 70 counties a year, run through local Extension offices: pick up a kit, collect the sample on the set day, and drop it off locally. Each kit tests well, spring or cistern water for 28 things, including bacteria, nitrate, lead and arsenic. $70 a kit, with funding to help if you need it. Virginia Household Water Quality Program.

All 145 certified labs for Virginia

ZIP codes in Bristol

Which ZIP codes are in Bristol: Census 2020 relationship files. Which utilities serve them, and how many people: EPA SDWIS and EPA’s service area map. Each utility’s results: EPA UCMR 5, EPA SDWIS, and EPA’s and the state’s compliance monitoring, as its report lists them. How they are measured: methodology. Certified labs: DCLS, drinking water laboratories with certification detail; distances from the Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation area gazetteer.

Near Bristol

Towns nearby with a page of their own.

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