01The verdict: is Pleasant Valley water safe?
Pleasant Valley's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A (90.2/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,694 residents using groundwater (wells).
6 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.6 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓A flood-prone service area
8 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Pleasant Valley's drinking water received a grade of A (90.2 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,694 residents using purchased ground water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.6 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 15 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 6 remain unresolved.
Pleasant Valley ranks #6 out of 245 cities in West Virginia for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state. Pleasant Valley purchases its water from a regional wholesaler, meaning quality depends on both the supplier's treatment and the local distribution system's condition. As a small community water system, Pleasant Valley may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Pleasant Valley's water
Every contaminant flagged in Pleasant Valley, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.6 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in West Virginia
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in West Virginia
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Pleasant Valley's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 15 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 6 remain unresolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 19 ppb since 1994. Latest reading: 0.62 ppb (2023) — 4% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Pleasant Valley's water comes from
Pleasant Valley purchases its water supply from a regional wholesale provider rather than treating raw water directly.
Purchased Groundwater
Water is bought from a regional wholesaler; quality starts at the supplier's intake and treatment.
Wholesale supplier
Primary treatment happens at the wholesaler; the local utility maintains disinfectant residual in its pipes.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
2,694 people
Residents served across Pleasant Valley's service area.
Water quality depends on both the wholesaler's treatment standards and the condition of Pleasant Valley's local distribution pipes and storage facilities. Purchased water systems are common in suburban areas and smaller communities that lack the infrastructure for independent treatment. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 2,694 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARSHALL COUNTY PSD 3 | WV3302608 | 2,694 | Purchased Groundwater |
Water bodies near Pleasant Valley
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Pleasant Valley's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Industrial discharge
5 facilities within 10 miles reported 121 lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Flood & storm history
8 federal disaster declarations on record for Marshall County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Superfund proximity
2 National Priorities List sites within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily indicate tap-water contamination — the connection depends on hydrology and treatment.
06How Pleasant Valley compares
Scores for nearby West Virginia cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = West Virginia average (68/100)
Pleasant Valley scores 90.2/100 — above the West Virginia average of 68/100. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities. Full West Virginia rankings →
90.1 / 100AHuntington, WV
89.7 / 100FMorgantown, WV
39.4 / 100FMartinsburg, WV
40.2 / 100ABeckley, WV
90 / 100FFairmont, WV
35.1 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Pleasant Valley's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Pleasant Valley's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Pleasant Valley alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Pleasant Valley, WV tap water safe to drink?
Pleasant Valley's water quality earned a grade of A (90.2/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #6 out of 245 cities tested in West Virginia.
What contaminants are in Pleasant Valley's water?
Lead was measured at 0.6 ppb (90th percentile). 15 violations are on record.
How is Pleasant Valley's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Pleasant Valley?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Pleasant Valley's water come from?
Pleasant Valley's water is sourced from Purchased ground water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,694 residents.
What health violations has Pleasant Valley's water system had?
Pleasant Valley has 1 health-based violation on record. The most recent violation was recorded in September 2018. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 6 violations remain unresolved.
Is Pleasant Valley's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Pleasant Valley uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 15 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Pleasant Valley's water compare to other cities?
Pleasant Valley ranks #6 out of 245 cities in West Virginia (better than 98% of state cities) and #2346 out of 15382 cities nationally (85th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Pleasant Valley's small water system affect quality?
Pleasant Valley's system serves approximately 2,694 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 15 violations on record.