Hampton
Hampton, VA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Hampton, VA is a mid-sized city, with a population near 136,454 and the 9th-largest community in Virginia. Like much of Virginia, Hampton draws its water primarily from Potomac River, James River, and coastal aquifers.
Hampton's water outlook is shaped most by saltwater intrusion — the issue that dominates planning across Virginia. Hampton Roads' SWIFT project injects purified water into the Potomac Aquifer to fight both depletion and land subsidence — a leading East Coast reuse effort.
Hampton sits in a state that reuses roughly 21% of treated wastewater (established programs) and currently experiences severe to extreme drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Virginia state water profile and the related issues below.
At a glance
- Population ~136,454 (9th-largest in Virginia)
- Primary sources: Potomac River, James River, and coastal aquifers
- Drought: severe to extreme conditions
- State reuse rate: ~21% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Virginia in severe+ drought (Extreme (D3) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Hampton?
Hampton is served by community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Statewide, 15.1% of Virginia's systems have a recent health-based violation. Check your provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report for local results.
Where does Hampton get its water?
Hampton draws from the same regional sources that serve Virginia: Potomac River, James River, coastal aquifers.
Related water issues
Saltwater Intrusion
As coastal aquifers are over-pumped and seas rise, saltwater pushes inland and contaminates freshwater supplies for cities from Florida to California.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
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