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Water Quality

Water Quality

In this section

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  • Fairfax Water Service Area
  • Washington Aqueduct Service Area
  • Facts About Lead
  • Facts About Fluoride
  • Facts About Chromium
  • Facts About PFAS
  • Annual Report on Water Quality
  • FAQs
2
primary water sources
167M
gallons processed daily on average
25%
of all Virginians on public water are customers
$783M
in planned improvements through 2027
2
primary water sources
167M
gallons processed daily on average
25%
of all Virginians on public water are customers
$783M
in planned improvements through 2027

Fairfax Water provides water to a large portion of Northern Virginia. The majority of customers receive water treated at Fairfax Water's treatment plants. Some customers receive water via the Washington Aqueduct.

To obtain water quality information use the links or the map below to select the region you are interested in and it will take you to the corresponding water quality information.

Fairfax Water Service Area

Washington Aqueduct Service Area

  • Water Quality Notice for Washington Aqueduct Service Area

FAQs

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How is the water tested, and by whom?

Fairfax Water’s Water Quality Laboratory, a state certified laboratory, performs or manages the testing required by State and Federal regulations. In addition to regulatory testing many other analyses are performed to monitor the water quality of the Authority’s raw sources, water within the treatment process, as well as within the distribution system. Water undergoing the treatment process is continuously monitored for pH, turbidity, coagulation efficiency, and disinfectant residuals through technically advanced on-line monitoring systems. Other testing, such as chlorine, pH, and temperature, is performed at the sample location site with portable instrumentation. The majority of the regulatory and water quality monitoring testing performed, which include Organic, Inorganic, Metals, and Bacteriological testing, are conducted at Fairfax Water’s laboratory using sophisticated instrumentation. Results for much of this testing are posted on Fairfax Water's website in its Annual Water Quality Report.

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Do I need to treat the tap water in any way before I place fish in an aquarium?

Fairfax Water uses chlorine for disinfection purposes, which can be harmful to fish if not dechlorinated prior to placing fish in it. Fairfax Water utilizes two types of chlorine, free chlorine and chloramines (chlorine and ammonia mixture). Chloramines are normally used July - March, and free chlorine is generally used April - June. Free chlorine and chloramine dechlorination is performed differently. Chemical additives with directions for dechlorinating either free chlorine or chloramine from water for use in fish tanks or ponds are available at pet/fish supply stores.

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What is the white residue sometimes found on items such as coffee pots, irons, shower doors, glassware, and cookware?

The white residues are minerals that are found in the water such as calcium. Overtime and repeated water use there may be a build-up of the minerals on any item the water comes in contact with. There are commercial products that can be purchased to rid the surface of mineral build-up.

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Sometimes ice cubes made from the tap water, or the melted water from ice cubes contains white particles. What are these particles and where do they come from?

Ice cubes freeze from the outside in. Ice is formed from pure water (hydrogen and oxygen) therefore the minerals such as calcium and magnesium normally found in the water sometimes end up as visible particulates in the core of the ice cube. The white particles are not toxic.

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Is it okay to use water from the hot water tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula?

Hot water generally comes from a hot water heater that may contain impurities that should not be ingested. Some of these impurities might be metals from household plumbing that are concentrated in the heating process. Additionally, these impurities from the household plumbing dissolve more rapidly in hot water than cold water causing the amount of impurities to be higher in hot water.

Fairfax Water

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Fairfax Water is exempt from Federal, State and local sales and use taxes (ID # 54-6025290)