Data & Methodology — Suffolk city

Full contaminant data, sample history, and sourcing for Suffolk city. For readers who want to go beyond the summary.

Contaminant Data — All Analytes

671 well testing events on record, covering 16 analytes. Data spans 1929 to 2026.

Contaminant Samples Years Detection Rate Distribution LowModHigh vs. Limit vs. VA Avg
Iron 170 1929–2023 91%
58% of limit ↓ 27% below
Radon 22 1998–2023 100%
85% of limit ~ typical
Fluoride 191 1939–2026 92%
60% of limit ↑ 1510% above
Manganese 105 1967–2023 95%
42% of limit ↓ 66% below
Chloride 224 1929–2026 100%
9% of limit ~ typical
Sulfate 209 1929–2026 100%
8% of limit ↓ 31% below
Arsenic 32 1983–2023 62%
10% of limit ↑ 26% above
Lead 13 1975–2021 31%
10% of limit ↑ 310% above
Nitrate 142 1929–2026 66%
1% of limit ↓ 88% below
Nitrite 95 1975–2026 46%
1% of limit ↓ 39% below
Uranium 33 1998–2023 70%
0% of limit ↓ 46% below
Sodium 207 1929–2026 100%
— ↑ 1468% above
Total Coliform 1 2013–2021 0%
— —
E. coli 1 2004–2021 98%
— —
Hardness 212 1929–2026 100%
— ↓ 77% below
pH 192 1954–2023 100%
— ~ typical

Distribution shows the share of samples in each concentration band relative to the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): Low = below half the MCL, Moderate = between half and the MCL, High = above the MCL. Analytes without an MCL (e.g. sodium, pH) show — in the limit columns. State average is based on county median values across VA.

Data Coverage & Gaps

Well-sampled analytes (15+ samples)

  • Iron 170 samples
  • Radon 22 samples
  • Fluoride 191 samples
  • Manganese 105 samples
  • Chloride 224 samples
  • Sulfate 209 samples
  • Arsenic 32 samples
  • Nitrate 142 samples
  • Nitrite 95 samples
  • Uranium 33 samples
  • Sodium 207 samples
  • Hardness 212 samples
  • pH 192 samples

Limited data (<15 samples) — interpret with caution

  • Lead 13 samples
  • Total Coliform 1 sample
  • E. coli 1 sample

No private-well PFAS data for Suffolk city

We have no private well sampling data for PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, and related chemicals) in Suffolk city. PFAS testing for private wells requires a dedicated lab panel (~$300–$500). If you are near a military base, airport, or industrial site, consider testing proactively. Learn more about PFAS →

Public vs. Private Water in Suffolk city

0 Active public water systems
0 Residents on public water

Public water systems in Suffolk city are regulated by the EPA and must test and report contaminant levels. Private well owners are responsible for their own testing — there is no routine monitoring of private wells by any government agency.

CDC Health Outcome Correlations

Where contaminants detected in Suffolk city have established associations with specific health outcomes, we cross-reference CDC PLACES county-level prevalence data. This is a contextual signal, not a causal claim.

Contaminant Associated Condition Suffolk city Prevalence VA Average Source Year
Radon Cancer prevalence 5.8% 6.7% 2020

Source: CDC PLACES county-level estimates. Raw data: Download Suffolk city CDC PLACES data →

Data Sources

This report aggregates data from the following public databases:

Methodology

Raw records are downloaded from the Water Quality Portal and normalized to µg/L (ppb). Records are deduplicated by sample ID and date, and certified outliers are excluded. Analyte names are mapped to EPA canonical forms. Detection rates, distribution bands, and MCL comparisons are computed from the normalized dataset.

Distribution bands use the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level as the threshold: concentrations below 50% of the MCL are classed as Low, between 50% and 100% as Moderate, and above 100% as High. For analytes without an MCL (sodium, hardness, pH), distribution is not computed.

State comparison uses the median of county median values across all counties in VA with at least one sample for that analyte.

Last updated: 2026-07-15

Full methodology →