Poquoson Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
388.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.44
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 Poquoson, your appliances are currently losing 22% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Poquoson | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -52% |
| Washing Machine | 7.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -38% |
| Water Heater | 9 yrs | 15 yrs | -40% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Poquoson compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Poquoson, Virginia | 165.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| East Hampton, Virginia | 177.5 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Hampton, Virginia | 92 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately 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 |
National Benchmark
How Poquoson compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Poquoson | 165.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Poquoson home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Poquoson's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Poquoson, Virginia, in the City of Poquoson — a small independent Virginia city adjacent to Hampton and York County on the lower Chesapeake Bay peninsula in southeast Virginia — receives its water from Newport News Waterworks, drawing from the Chickahominy Reservoir system through the Hampton Roads regional distribution.
The hard 165.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 388.9 mg/L reflect the coastal Virginia supply's hard calcareous character — the Chickahominy watershed drains Precambrian Blue Ridge gneiss (insoluble) and Cretaceous Potomac Group calcareous sediments of the Coastal Plain, producing the moderately hard water characteristic of southeastern Virginia (compare Hampton VA: 162/382 in Hampton City comparable; Yorktown VA: 168/394 in York County comparable; Poquoson consistent hard from the same Newport News Waterworks Chickahominy-Cretaceous coastal plain supply). The Chickahominy watershed at Poquoson — Precambrian Blue Ridge gneiss (insoluble — dilutant), Cretaceous Potomac Group (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Coastal Plain alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 165.5 mg/L with TDS 389, Poquoson's water is hard — scale builds in appliances and fixtures over months. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 8.5 ppt is elevated — a certified drinking water filter is recommended — the Poquoson Hampton Roads area military installations and industrial legacy contribute to the elevated PFAS readings. Review Newport News Waterworks' annual water quality report for the latest data.
Geology & Source: Poquoson in City of Poquoson draws from the Newport News Waterworks on Chickahominy Reservoir (City of Poquoson, southeast Virginia) — the Chickahominy watershed at Poquoson drains Precambrian Blue Ridge gneiss (insoluble) and Cretaceous Potomac Group (slightly calcareous) — Virginia Poquoson Newport News Waterworks Cretaceous coastal plain supply produces hard water at 165.5 mg/L with TDS 388.9 mg/L.