Newport News, Virginia Water Outage Today
Live Newport News water outage reports, Newport News Waterworks’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Newport News, Virginia in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Newport News?
Drinking water in Newport News, Virginia is supplied by Newport News Waterworks, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Virginia are regulated by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water.
To report no water or a main break, call Newport News Waterworks at 757-234-4800.
Newport News water system at a glance
City of Newport News is the water system EPA lists for Newport News, serving about 407,300 people. Customers know it as Newport News Waterworks; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | City of Newport News (VA3700500) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 407,300 through 136,940 service connections |
| Source of the water | Surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 6 surface intakes, 2 treatment points, 7 storage tanks and reservoirs, 3 pump facilities |
| State regulator | Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 0.5 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Source water and treatment in Newport News
Tap water in Newport News starts as surface water. City of Newport News takes it from Lee Hall, Harwood Mill, and Chickahominy R and runs it through treatment before it reaches the mains. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Lee Hall - Plant 5. After treatment the water is held in 7 storage tanks and reservoirs and pushed uphill by 3 pump facilities; that storage is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
Why this matters when the water stops. A surface-water system depends on its plant staying online. If the plant, the raw-water pumps or the power feeding them fails, pressure can fall across the entire service area at once, and a precautionary boil notice tends to cover whole zones rather than the single street of a main break.
Why the water goes out in Newport News
These are the causes that match the record for Newport News, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Freezing weather. Newport News sees about 25 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 2 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on February 20, 2015. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 3 days, ending February 17, 2015. Frozen service lines and meters cause single-address outages, while ground frost and thaw cycles crack older mains and produce the street-wide breaks.
- Tropical storms and hurricanes. Storm surge, flooding and multi-day power cuts are the main threat to treatment plants and pump stations in Virginia. Utilities in the region routinely issue precautionary boil notices after a storm, even where nothing is found in the water.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 51 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Newport News city from 2015 through 2026, and 9 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. Floodwater can undercut pipe crossings, swamp pump stations and overload treatment plants, and a notice to boil water often follows when it enters the system.
- Digging and utility work. Street projects, fiber installation and excavation near buried pipe regularly cut mains in Newport News with no warning, usually on a day with perfectly ordinary weather.
- One-address problems. A closed valve, a meter swap or a failed regulator can leave a single house dry. Compare notes with a neighbor first; if they have water too, start with your own plumbing.
How weather strains the Newport News water system
Main break season in Newport News runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 25.1 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 1.5 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 2.8 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 1 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 8.6 |
| Average annual precipitation | 46.9 in |
| Wettest year | 2020 (61.6 in) |
| Driest year | 2025 (38.2 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | February 20, 2015 |
| Hottest day in the record | June 24, 2025 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 11.8 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2020 with 61.6 inches; the driest was 2025 with 38.2. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
A note on the numbers: they are modeled for the city center and averaged over eleven years, so they show how often Newport News sees each kind of weather, not what any one thermometer read on a given day.
Newport News boil water notices and EPA compliance record
EPA lists no health-based violations for City of Newport News since 2015.
Boil water notices in Newport News are precautions, not findings. When pressure drops, Newport News Waterworks tells affected customers to boil water until two rounds of lab tests are clean, a process that normally takes 24 to 48 hours after service is restored, under oversight from the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water.
What the lead tests and housing age say about Newport News
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for City of Newport News is 0 ppb (2025). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is far from the limit.
Highest result on file: 0.5 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 35.3% of occupied homes in Newport News predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask Newport News Waterworks whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
How long a water outage lasts in Newport News
Most repairs of an ordinary main break in Newport News take half a day once the crew is on site. Bigger mains, deep bury and busy roads stretch that to a day or more. With 407,300 people on the system, a break on a main that feeds a whole district can leave thousands of homes dry at once, and crews may close valves several blocks away to isolate it.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | Time window posted ahead; water often returns early |
| Ordinary main break | Half a day once the crew has isolated the pipe |
| Large or deep main | A day or two, sometimes three |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | Until power returns and tanks recover, often within a day |
| Boil water notice after service returns | About 24 to 48 hours, until lab tests are clean |
| Frozen service line or meter | Depends on thaw; a plumber is usually needed |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
For a break that affects many customers, Newport News Waterworks usually posts an estimated restoration time. When you call, ask the dispatcher what the crew has told them.
How much water to keep on hand in Newport News
Census figures put the typical Newport News household at about 2.4 people. At one gallon per person per day that is 7 gallons for three days or 34 gallons for a two-week supply.
- 51.8% of households rent. Tell your landlord or property manager about a leak or outage right away, since the shutoff valve may be theirs.
- Do not forget the water heater: the tank holds roughly 30 to 50 gallons you can drink after it is switched off and allowed to cool.
- Fill a tub or large containers early for toilets, cleaning and handwashing, and store drinking water separately in clean bottles.
Newport News versus neighboring water utilities
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport News, VA | City of Newport News | 407,300 | Surface | 0 | 0.5 |
| Hampton, VA | City of Newport News | 407,300 | Surface | 0 | 0.5 |
| Chesapeake, VA | City of Chesapeake - Northwest River Sys | 165,240 | Surface | 0 | 1.1 |
| Suffolk, VA | City of Suffolk | 69,822 | Surface | 0 | 1 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | City of Virginia Beach | 437,994 | Bought (surface) | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Hampton, VA · Chesapeake, VA · Suffolk, VA · Virginia Beach, VA
Staying informed about water service in Newport News
Sign up for alerts from Newport News Waterworks and check its website or social accounts when the water goes off. If a boil advisory is issued, the water outage guide covers how to treat water and when it is safe again.
Newport News water outage questions
Who do I call about no water in Newport News?
Newport News Waterworks at 757-234-4800, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Where does Newport News get its water?
Per EPA, the water system for Newport News (City of Newport News) is classed as surface water. It draws from Lee Hall, Harwood Mill, and Chickahominy R.
Can you drink the tap water in Newport News?
EPA lists no health-based violations for City of Newport News since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 0 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. Follow any boil water notice until the utility says it is over.
When do water mains break most in Newport News?
Cold weather drives most breaks in Newport News, which averages about 25 freezing days a year. Expect the most calls from December through February, especially a day or two after a hard freeze when the ground thaws.
Why did the water pressure drop at my house in Newport News?
Low pressure often comes from a nearby main break, heavy demand on a hot evening, or a failed pressure regulator at your own home. If neighbors are affected too, report it to Newport News Waterworks; if only your home is, check the regulator and shutoff valve.
How long does a boil water notice last in Newport News?
Typically a day or two. Bacteria tests take about 24 hours, so Newport News Waterworks cannot end a notice until clean samples come back; the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water sets the rules for that process.
How much water should a Newport News household store?
One gallon per person per day is the FEMA minimum. For Newport News that means about 7 gallons to cover three days for an average household of 2.4, and 34 gallons for two weeks.
Should I worry about lead in Newport News water?
35.3% of occupied homes in Newport News were built before 1970, and lead service lines were not banned until 1986. Ask Newport News Waterworks whether your service line is on its lead inventory, and use a filter certified for lead if you are unsure.
How do I check for water outages near me in Newport News?
We do not run a pipe map. The report count at the top of this page shows what other people in Newport News have reported in the last 24 hours. For the official picture, check Newport News Waterworks for its outage page, alerts and social accounts.
More outage pages for Newport News and nearby
Other outage types in Newport News
Water Service Outages in cities near Newport News
- Hampton, VA 6 mi · Newport News Waterworks
- Norfolk, VA 12 mi · Norfolk Department of Utilities
- Portsmouth, VA 12 mi · City of Portsmouth Utilities
- Chesapeake, VA 14 mi · Chesapeake Public Utilities
- Suffolk, VA 19 mi · City of Suffolk Public Utilities
- Virginia Beach, VA 26 mi · Virginia Beach Public Utilities
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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