Short reads that make your water report make sense
Straight answers to the water questions Northern Virginia homeowners ask most. Each one takes a few minutes.
Loudoun's water, the data centers, and what is in your tap Forty data centers run on recycled water. Your tap runs mostly on water bought from Fairfax. Alexandria's water is run by a for-profit utility Its neighbors set rates at a board meeting. Alexandria's are argued before a state commission. Arlington's water comes from a federal plant in DC The county runs the pipes. The Army Corps runs the treatment. Is bottled water actually cleaner than tap? Only one of the two has to publish what it found. And in 2024 researchers counted the plastic. What does a water softener actually cost to run? About $60 to $150 a year. Here is the arithmetic, so you can check it. Fairfax Water and PFAS: what the utility actually said A half-billion-dollar fix, a 2031 deadline, and water that is legal today. Hot water smells like rotten eggs? Start with the two-tap test Hot only means the tank. Hot and cold means the water. Well water testing in Virginia: what to test for, and how often No utility, no annual report, no regulator. The schedule is yours to keep. How to read your water report in 2 minutes "Legal" isn't the same as "recommended", and one number matters more than the rest. Pitcher vs Reverse Osmosis (RO) vs whole-home What each one does, what each one can't, and how to choose for your house. The 2-month rule for water filters A filter past its date doesn't just stop helping, it can make things worse. What your water report can't see: your house City data ends at the street. Your pipes, pressure, and water heater are their own story. Why your water smells like a pool some weeks The spring chlorine smell, explained, and what actually helps.Start with your own water
Type your ZIP and see your utility's published test results: what's in your tap, how hard it runs, and what's above the health guideline.
Get your free water report → Book a $99 water heater flush (normally $199) →Hard water fills a tank with sediment, so the flush is the usual next step. Call or text (571) 396-0299.