Hampton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
150 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.25
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Hampton, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Hampton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -22% |
| Washing Machine | 10.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -15% |
| Water Heater | 11.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -21% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Hampton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hampton, Virginia | 92 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| East Hampton, Virginia | 177.5 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Newport News, Virginia | 103 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Norfolk, Virginia | 112.5 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Portsmouth, Virginia | 169 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Hampton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hampton | 92 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Hampton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Hampton, Virginia, an independent city at the tip of the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, receives its municipal water supply from the Newport News Waterworks regional system, drawing from Harwood's Mill Reservoir on the Warwick River and Lee Hall Reservoir on Skiffes Creek — two protected surface water impoundments in Newport News and York County. These reservoirs, operated by Newport News Waterworks, serve the entire Hampton Roads Peninsula including Hampton, Newport News, and surrounding cities. Water is treated at the James River Water Treatment Plant and Diascund Creek facilities before distribution in Hampton's City of Hampton Department of Public Works distribution network. Water hardness measures 92 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Hampton's moderately soft supply is slightly lower than East Hampton's reading (177.5 mg/L), reflecting the same regional source water processed at slightly different distribution system points. Hampton's reading captures water from the same Cretaceous Potomac Group coastal plain watershed — ancient deltaic sands, gravels, and clays deposited in Mesozoic rivers — supplemented by Tertiary Pliocene and Miocene coastal plain sediments including calcareous shell beds. The Harwood's Mill and Lee Hall watersheds cross relatively calcium-poor Cretaceous terrigenous sediments in their upper reaches, with calcareous influence limited to the lower coastal plain zone, producing a moderately soft finished supply.
At 92 mg/L, Hampton residents experience light to moderate scale build-up over time. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits slowly — bi-monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is sufficient. Dishwashers produce clean glassware with moderate rinse-aid use. Water heaters accumulate modest scale over their operational life. Newport News Waterworks consistently delivers water meeting all Virginia DEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements throughout the Hampton Roads Peninsula distribution network.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Harwood's Mill Reservoir (Warwick River) and Lee Hall Reservoir (Skiffes Creek) via the Newport News Waterworks regional system serving the Hampton Roads Peninsula — Cretaceous Potomac Group coastal plain sediments and Tertiary marine calcareous formations beneath the Virginia Peninsula contribute moderate calcium, producing moderately soft supply at 92 mg/L.