The James River: Richmond’s Lifeline
The City of Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities operates a water treatment plant that draws from the James River, serving approximately 500,000 people in the city and surrounding Henrico and Chesterfield counties.
The James River has come a long way. In the mid-20th century, it was one of the most polluted rivers on the East Coast — industrial discharges, raw sewage, and agricultural runoff had devastated water quality and aquatic life. Decades of Clean Water Act enforcement, wastewater treatment upgrades, and industrial cleanup have dramatically improved conditions. The river now supports recreational use, fishing, and — of course — drinking water supply.
But the legacy of that industrial past persists in sediments, and modern challenges continue to test the system.
Lead Service Lines
Richmond has an estimated 10,000 or more lead service lines in its distribution system — concentrated in the city’s older neighborhoods. Church Hill, Jackson Ward, the Fan District, Oregon Hill, and much of the city’s historic core were built during the era when lead was the standard plumbing material.
The city uses optimized corrosion control treatment to minimize lead leaching, and system-wide 90th percentile testing has generally met the EPA’s action level of 15 ppb. But Richmond’s lead challenge is compounded by the age and condition of its distribution system — some water mains date back to the Civil War era, rivaling Philadelphia for the oldest in the nation.
The EPA’s revised Lead and Copper Rule requires complete lead service line inventory and replacement within 10 years. Richmond has been working on its inventory, but the city faces significant financial constraints. With a poverty rate above 20%, the cost of replacing thousands of lead service lines falls on a community with limited ability to absorb rate increases.
Virginia’s General Assembly has explored funding mechanisms for lead service line replacement, and the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided additional resources — but the scale of the need dwarfs available funding.
Combined Sewer Overflows
Richmond has a combined sewer system — one of the largest in Virginia — that carries both stormwater and sanitary sewage in the same pipes. During heavy rainfall, the system overflows and discharges a mix of untreated sewage, stormwater, and whatever else is in the pipes directly into the James River.
The city entered an EPA consent decree in 2015 to address combined sewer overflows, committing to billions of dollars in infrastructure improvements over 25+ years. Projects include storage tunnels, green infrastructure, sewer separation, and treatment upgrades.
While CSOs don’t directly contaminate Richmond’s drinking water intake (treatment processes handle pathogen risks), they affect the overall quality of the James River and can spike contaminant loads during storm events that the water treatment plant must manage.
PFAS: Industrial and Military Sources
PFAS contamination in the James River basin has drawn increasing attention. Upstream industrial sources, military installations, and wastewater treatment plant discharges all contribute PFAS to the river.
The Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR) — a military logistics facility in Chesterfield County — is one identified source of PFAS contamination from historical AFFF use. The Department of Defense has been investigating PFAS at the facility and monitoring impacts on surrounding groundwater and surface water.
Virginia adopted PFAS action levels for drinking water and has been conducting statewide monitoring. Richmond’s treatment plant tests for PFAS compounds, and results to date have been below the EPA’s 2024 Maximum Contaminant Levels — but the presence of PFAS in the James River means ongoing vigilance is essential.
Disinfection Byproducts
Richmond’s water treatment plant uses conventional treatment with chlorine disinfection. The James River’s organic matter content — influenced by upstream agricultural runoff, urban stormwater, and natural sources — creates conditions for disinfection byproduct formation.
The utility has generally maintained compliance with EPA limits for TTHMs (80 ppb) and HAA5 (60 ppb), but seasonal variations in source water quality can push DBP levels higher during warm months. Water age in the distribution system — particularly in low-demand areas at the periphery — can exacerbate the issue.
Coal Ash: An Upstream Concern
The James River basin includes several coal-fired power plant sites with coal ash storage facilities. Coal ash contains heavy metals — a problem we also cover in Charlotte — including arsenic, selenium, chromium, and mercury that can leach into groundwater and surface water.
Dominion Energy’s Bremo Power Station and other facilities along the James River have coal ash ponds that have been subject to EPA regulations and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality oversight. While these sites are upstream of Richmond’s water intake, any contamination reaching the river could affect source water quality.
Virginia’s coal ash regulations — strengthened in recent years — require closure and remediation of unlined coal ash ponds, but the timeline for full remediation extends years into the future.
What Residents Can Do
- Check if your home has lead pipes — Richmond DPU can help identify your service line material. Pre-1950 homes in the city are high risk
- Flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, especially in the morning or after extended absence
- Use cold water for cooking and baby formula — never use hot tap water for consumption
- Consider a certified water filter — NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction, NSF P473 for PFAS, activated carbon for DBPs
- Report discolored water to Richmond DPU — brown or rusty water may indicate disturbed sediment in aging mains
- If you’re on a private well in the Richmond metro area, test annually for bacteria, nitrates, and consider PFAS testing near military or industrial sites
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and recommend solutions appropriate for Richmond’s specific water chemistry and contamination risks.
Sources
- City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities, Annual Water Quality Reports
- Virginia Department of Health, Drinking Water Program
- EPA SDWIS, Richmond DPU compliance records
- EPA, Richmond CSO Consent Decree
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, PFAS Investigation
- James River Association, Water Quality Monitoring Data