Roanoke
Roanoke, VA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
western virginia water authority
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID VA2770900
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 99,897 residents, Roanoke ranks as the 10th-largest city in Virginia and a small but growing city. Water in Roanoke is sourced chiefly from Potomac River, James River, and coastal aquifers, the backbone of Virginia's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: saltwater intrusion. Hampton Roads' SWIFT project injects purified water into the Potomac Aquifer to fight both depletion and land subsidence — a leading East Coast reuse effort.
Statewide, Virginia recycles about 21% of its wastewater with established reuse programs. Locally, Roanoke faces severe to extreme drought conditions.
The Virginia state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Roanoke's water future.
At a glance
- Population ~99,897 (10th-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 Roanoke?
Roanoke's largest water system, WESTERN VIRGINIA WATER AUTHORITY, serves about 182,700 people. EPA records show 3 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Roanoke get its water?
WESTERN VIRGINIA WATER AUTHORITY draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Virginia's supply from 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.
Explore