Virginia American Water (Alexandria) water, explained

Hardness: about 5 to 10 grains per gallon

Alexandria receives finished water from Fairfax Water, which reports 5 to 10 grains per gallon. Confirm the current figure in the Virginia American Water report. Anything above 7 grains per gallon is classified as hard. In practice that means scale on fixtures and shower glass, spotted dishes and mineral buildup inside water heaters and tankless units.

Disinfectant: Chloramine

Because the water is produced by Fairfax Water, it carries a chloramine residual. Catalytic carbon is the correct filtration media.

Seasonal changes: Follows the Fairfax Water spring free-chlorine flush, so expect a stronger chlorine smell for a few weeks each spring.

PFAS

Utilities that draw from the Potomac have reported low-level PFAS detections in routine monitoring. EPA finalized limits for PFOA and PFOS in 2024. An under-sink reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 is the practical fix at the tap you drink from.

Lead

Alexandria has a large stock of pre-1960 homes in Old Town, Del Ray and Rosemont, so older solder and fixtures are common. Lead does not come from the treatment plant. It comes from older home plumbing: pre-1986 solder, older brass fixtures and, in some neighborhoods, lead service lines. A point-of-use filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead, or reverse osmosis, addresses it at the tap.

What we recommend on Virginia American Water water

Whole-home softener with catalytic carbon and an under-sink reverse osmosis unit. Old Town rowhouses often need a compact cabinet-style softener because of tight utility spaces.

Figures checked September 2026 against Virginia American Water quality reports. Utilities update reports annually; if you see a newer figure, tell us and we will update this page.