West Virginia Water Quality — 248 Cities Tested

Analysis

West Virginia water quality overview

West Virginia's drinking water quality is fair overall, with an average score of 61.3 out of 100 across 248 cities tested. The median score is 56.6, serving a total population of 1,637,079 residents. 50% of cities scored a D or F, pointing to significant water quality challenges in parts of the state. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in 43 of 248 cities tested (17%). 17 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. 2 cities have lead levels exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb, often indicating aging infrastructure with lead service lines or lead solder. The state relies on a mix of water sources: 72 cities use groundwater while 176 draw from surface water such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Key Concerns

Issues to watch in West Virginia

43 cities

PFAS Detected

17% of tested cities have PFAS in their water supply.

2 cities

Lead Exceedances

Lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 ppb (90th percentile).

223 cities

Health Violations

32,975 total violations recorded, 247 with unresolved issues.

57 cities

Failing Systems

Received a grade of F, indicating serious water quality issues.

Contaminant Data

Explore contaminants in West Virginia

Lead in West Virginia → Ranked by 90th percentile level (ppb) PFAS in West Virginia → Ranked by compounds detected Copper in West Virginia → Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)

More contaminants tested in West Virginia

HAA5 → Chromium-6 → Arsenic → Nitrate → Strontium → 1,4-Dioxane → Manganese → Vanadium → Chlorate → Molybdenum → Cobalt → Lithium → NDMA →

State context

11

Superfund sites in West Virginia

EPA National Priorities List

90.9%

of West Virginia residents on fluoridated water

CDC, 2020

1,639,345

lbs released to surface water

Top 10 TRI facilities, 2023

4.3%

of West Virginia domestic wells exceed EPA arsenic limit

USGS, 117 samples · 10 µg/L MCL

Domestic well chemistry

Private-well water in West Virginia

Based on USGS Powell Domestic-Well Database — 836 private wells sampled across West Virginia. These wells are not regulated by the EPA; if you draw your tap from a private well, the public-system grade above does not apply to you.

0.8 µg/L

Median arsenic in domestic wells

P90 6.0 µg/L · max 31.4 µg/L

94 µg/L

Median manganese in domestic wells

24.6% exceed 300 µg/L aesthetic limit

Industrial pollution

Top industrial water polluters in West Virginia

Industrial polluters nearby

The 10 facilities reporting the most pounds released to surface water in West Virginia, 2023.

Total reported releases to surface water: 1,639,345 lbs

Facility	Top chemical	To surface water (lbs/yr)
CHEMOURS WASHINGTON WORKS Chemicals · THE CHEMOURS CO WASHINGTON, WV26181	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	818,921
CHEMOURS BELLE PLANT Chemicals · THE CHEMOURS CO BELLE, WV25015	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	404,811
CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC Chemicals · SYENSQO HOLDING INC WILLOW ISLAND, WV26134	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	112,925
COVESTRO Chemicals · COVESTRO LLC PROCTOR, WV26055	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	93,270
ALTIVIA INSTITUTE FACILITIES Chemicals · ALTIVIA KETONES & ADDITIVES LLC DUNBAR, WV25064	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	70,292

+ 5 more facilities

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Test your own tap

Get your West Virginia water tested

City-level data shows the source and infrastructure picture — but lead and other home-plumbing issues only show up at your tap. Find a state-certified lab, see what to test for, and what it costs.

Grade Distribution

How West Virginia cities scored

A: 35 B: 61 C: 29 D: 66 F: 57

Best Cities

Worst Cities

City Map

Water quality across West Virginia

Each dot is a city, colored by its water quality grade. Size reflects population served. Click any city to view its full water report.

All Cities

248 cities in West Virginia

Full rankings →

#	City	Grade	Score	Population	Violations
1	Bluefield	A+	99	12K	0
2	Spencer	A	93.6	5K	28
3	Volga	A	90.9	3K	15
4	Kingwood	A	90.5	7K	20
5	Pleasant Valley	A	90.2	3K	15
6	Pleasant Valley	A	90.2	3K	15
7	Charleston	A	90.1	209K	4
8	Beckley	A-	90	47K	15
9	Hurricane	A	90	9K	6
10	French Creek	A	90	5K	13
11	Craigsville	A-	89.9	5K	26
12	Sutton	A-	89.8	4K	51
13	Huntington	A-	89.7	99K	4
14	Letart	A-	89.4	3K	23
15	Daniels	A-	88.7	2K	2
16	Alderson	A-	88.6	2K	19
17	Peterstown	A-	88.5	5K	12
18	Newell	A-	88.4	5K	58
19	Oak Hill	A-	88.2	26K	1
20	Sutton	A-	88.1	5K	55
21	Rupert	A-	87.9	1K	8
22	Hinton	A-	87.8	21K	1
23	Glen Dale	A-	87.6	2K	40
24	Petersburg	A-	87.5	5K	12
25	New Manchester (Pughtown)	A-	86.9	2K	7
26	Summersville	A-	86.7	6K	24
27	Core	A-	86.7	4K	2
28	Beech Bottom	A-	86.6	610	13
29	Weston	A-	86.5	15K	2
30	Athens	A-	86.1	6K	13
31	Danese	A-	85.8	2K	14
32	Scott Depot (Rr Name Scott)	A-	85.7	24K	7
33	Junior	A-	85.2	987	22
34	Belington	A-	85.1	2K	5
35	Newburg	A-	85	1K	11
36	Chestnut Ridge	B+	84.8	3K	3
37	Ashton	B+	84.6	4K	25
38	Sherrard	B+	83.5	3K	20
39	Benwood	B+	83.1	2K	96
40	Rachel (Downs)	B+	83.1	1K	19
41	Amherstdale	B+	83	4K	17
42	Gassaway	B+	83	2K	3
43	Branchland	B+	82.9	3K	23
44	Birch River	B+	82.9	1K	23
45	Meadowville	B+	82.7	615	10
46	Reynoldsville	B+	82.5	3K	12
47	Star City	B+	82.5	2K	28
48	Grant Town	B+	82.5	506	34
49	Bethlehem	B+	82.4	3K	18
50	Hundred	B+	82.3	638	50
51	Gerrardstown	B+	82.1	1K	53
52	Norton	B+	82	2K	13
53	Reader	B+	82	1K	12
54	Bridgeport	B+	81.7	11K	12
55	Monongah	B+	81.6	3K	25
56	Jane Lew	B+	81.1	1K	72
57	Stonewood	B+	80.3	2K	38
58	Princeton	B	79.9	7K	53
59	Washington	B	79.1	10K	27
60	Walton	B	79	2K	27
61	Belmont	B	79	1K	25
62	Union	B	78.9	758	20
63	Tunnelton	B	78.2	1K	27
64	Gallipolis Ferry (Rr Name Gall	B	78.1	1K	23
65	Crum	B	77.7	3K	21
66	Lavalette	B	77.4	10K	12
67	Clear Creek	B	77.1	1K	3
68	Point Pleasant	B	76.9	4K	42
69	Hepzibah	B	76.5	2K	36
70	New Creek (Newcreek)	B	76.3	3K	23
71	Waverly	B	76.2	8K	34
72	Flemington	B	76.1	5K	30
73	Inwood	B	75.8	35K	39
74	Petersburg	B	75.8	9K	47
75	Triadelphia	B	75.6	5K	35
76	Coal City	B	75.2	3K	50
77	Brandywine	B	75.2	692	98
78	Franklin	B	75.2	633	92
79	West Liberty	B	75.1	10K	37
80	Masontown	B-	74.8	2K	47
81	Anmoore	B-	74.4	1K	96
82	Cool Ridge	B-	74.2	4K	15
83	Mount Nebo	B-	74	6K	40
84	Proctor	B-	73.5	2K	48
85	Slab Fork	B-	73.4	550	49
86	Ceredo	B-	73.3	1K	59
87	Pruntytown	B-	72.8	2K	29
88	Odd	B-	72.6	575	10
89	Wheeling	B-	72	30K	36
90	Talcott	B-	71.8	1K	22
91	Capon Bridge	B-	70.9	700	45
92	Beaver	B-	70.8	5K	13
93	Augusta	B-	70.7	2K	37
94	Burnsville	B-	70.7	1K	63
95	Nettie	B-	70.2	4K	63
96	Mcmechen	B-	70	2K	79
97	Mcgraws	C+	68.8	4K	33
98	Friendly	C+	68.2	4K	173
99	Elizabeth	C+	66.9	2K	55
100	Frank	C+	66.1	504	83
101	Frank	C+	66.1	504	83
102	St. Marys	C+	65.8	5K	29
103	Hillsboro	C+	65.4	559	131
104	Kenova	C+	65.2	11K	81
105	Windsor Heights	C+	65.1	2K	83
106	Goshen	C	64.4	972	139
107	Cottageville	C	64.3	3K	38
108	Parsons	C	64.1	1K	125
109	Shepherdstown	C	63.8	4K	138
110	Parkersburg	C	63.2	44K	151
111	Adamsville	C	63.1	1K	68
112	Adamsville	C	63.1	1K	68
113	Mannington	C	63	4K	87
114	Chester	C	63	3K	103
115	Meadow Bridge	C	62.5	692	33
116	Mineralwells	C	62	6K	30
117	Coalwood	C	61.4	2K	85
118	Mount Hope	C	61.3	2K	26
119	Clover	C	61	976	60
120	Marlinton	C	60.5	2K	168
121	Vienna	C-	57.9	13K	180
122	Beverly	C-	57.7	2K	85
123	Buckhannon	C-	57.5	17K	128
124	Arnett	C-	57.1	7K	22
125	Williamstown	C-	56.6	3K	60
126	Mt Storm	D+	54.9	2K	88
127	Follansbee	D+	54.7	8K	96
128	Wallace	D+	54.1	3K	46
129	Ronceverte	D+	54	2K	25
130	Maybeury	D+	53.1	2K	87
131	Burlington	D+	52.8	793	203
132	Snowshoe Resort	D+	51.8	2K	63
133	Mason (Rr Name Mason City)	D+	51.6	2K	153
134	Inwood	D+	51.1	35K	119
135	Reedsville	D+	51	3K	160
136	Pennsboro	D+	51	2K	72
137	Crichton	D+	50.7	1K	75
138	Keyser	D+	50	6K	244
139	Cowen	D+	50	3K	170
140	Griffithsville	D	49.8	2K	57
141	West Hamlin	D	49.2	2K	232
142	Procious (Camp)	D	49	3K	317
143	Harpers Ferry	D	49	3K	380
144	Gauley Bridge	D	49	3K	224
145	Pineville	D	49	2K	274
146	Clay	D	49	2K	164
147	Gilbert	D	49	2K	256
148	Lumberport	D	49	2K	302
149	Middlebourne	D	49	1K	105
150	Cass	D	49	555	355
151	Justice	D	48.8	504	94
152	Bluewell	D	48.5	6K	182
153	Green Spring	D	48.5	1K	589
154	Logan	D	48	17K	128
155	Frametown	D	48	2K	488
156	Keyser	D	48	1K	201
157	Williamson	D	47.8	3K	148
158	Belva	D	47	4K	35
159	Hedgesville	D	47	4K	325
160	Sistersville	D	47	2K	237
161	New Haven	D	47	2K	148
162	Normantown	D	47	618	86
163	Wiley Ford	D	46.8	7K	956
164	Wiley Ford	D	46.8	7K	956
165	Elkins	D	46	15K	115
166	Glenville	D	46	5K	204
167	Oceana	D	46	4K	196
168	Harrisville	D	46	2K	66
169	Matewan	D	46	2K	58
170	Hambleton	D	46	2K	69
171	Hambleton	D	46	2K	69
172	Hambleton	D	46	2K	69
173	Paw Paw	D	46	2K	179
174	Grantsville	D	46	2K	318
175	Fort Gay (Cassville)	D	46	2K	138
176	Kermit	D	46	1K	198
177	Rowlesburg	D	46	680	163
178	Pine Grove	D	46	620	201
179	Valley Grove	D	46	610	94
180	English	D	45.5	2K	263
181	English	D	45.5	2K	263
182	Berwind	D	45.5	692	316
183	Canaan Valley	D	45.5	577	147
184	Maidsville	D	45.4	2K	62
185	Albright	D	45.2	9K	151
186	White Sulphur Springs	D	45.2	7K	129
187	Moorefield	D	45	7K	290
188	New Cumberland	D	45	3K	164
189	Franklin	D	45	3K	329
190	War	D	45	1K	330
191	Thomas	D	45	753	262
192	Clarksburg	F	44.9	19K	118
193	Wiley Ford	F	44.2	8K	1283
194	Mullens	F	44.2	4K	296
195	Worthington	F	44.2	951	158
196	Logan	F	44	25K	567
197	Shinnston	F	44	6K	189
198	Augusta	F	44	5K	137
199	Nutter Fort	F	44	4K	85
200	Rivesville	F	44	2K	208
201	Chapmanville	F	44	2K	97
202	Salem	F	44	2K	155
203	Farmington	F	44	768	133
204	Camden-On-Gauley (Corp/Rr Name	F	44	581	369
205	Fenwick	F	44	554	79
206	Wayne	F	43.8	6K	31
207	Terra Alta	F	43.5	3K	85
208	Boothsville	F	43.5	2K	70
209	Greenville	F	43.2	4K	152
210	Welch	F	43	3K	165
211	Ridgeley (Rr Name Ridgely)	F	43	2K	235
212	Gary	F	43	2K	199
213	Hartford City (Corporate Name	F	43	745	160
214	Ragland	F	43	621	87
215	Arthurdale	F	43	555	229
216	St. Albans	F	42.8	14K	100
217	Fairview	F	42.8	958	86
218	Lewisburg	F	42.4	12K	168
219	Ripley	F	42.2	12K	221
220	Naugatuck	F	42.2	2K	601
221	West Milford	F	42	7K	129
222	Mill Creek	F	42	5K	379
223	Berkeley Springs	F	42	4K	709
224	West Union	F	42	2K	134
225	Piedmont	F	42	847	409
226	Pax	F	42	762	119
227	Grafton	F	41.8	9K	86
228	Wardensville	F	41.5	1K	87
229	Alum Creek	F	41.2	4K	317
230	Charles Town	F	41	23K	1226
231	Wellsburg	F	41	7K	72
232	Philippi	F	41	6K	108
233	Paden City	F	41	3K	284
234	Rainelle	F	41	2K	82
235	Martinsburg	F	40.2	54K	385
236	Five Forks	F	40	2K	134
237	Cameron	F	40	962	128
238	Moundsville	F	39.5	16K	217
239	Morgantown	F	39.4	78K	1062
240	Point Pleasant	F	39	15K	347
241	Weirton	F	37.9	19K	141
242	Ravenswood	F	37.5	8K	147
243	New Martinsville	F	36.5	5K	112
244	Varney	F	36	3K	76
245	Fairmont	F	35.1	40K	241
246	Davis	F	35	977	213
247	Lester	F	34	665	112
248	Richwood	F	32	2K	107

Counties

Browse West Virginia counties

Barbour 6 cities · avg 78.3 Berkeley 5 cities · avg 59.2 Braxton 5 cities · avg 75.9 Brooke 5 cities · avg 57.1 Cabell 1 city · avg 89.7 Calhoun 2 cities · avg 43 Clay 2 cities · avg 49 Doddridge 1 city · avg 42 Elkhart 1 city · avg 64.4 Fayette 7 cities · avg 62.3 Gilmer 2 cities · avg 46.5 Grant 3 cities · avg 72.7 Greenbrier 7 cities · avg 58.5 Hampshire 4 cities · avg 58.5 Hancock 4 cities · avg 70.8 Hardy 2 cities · avg 43.3 Harrison 14 cities · avg 60.3 Jackson 3 cities · avg 48 Jefferson 3 cities · avg 51.3 Kanawha 2 cities · avg 66.4 Lewis 2 cities · avg 83.8 Lincoln 4 cities · avg 55.8 Logan 5 cities · avg 52.4 Marion 11 cities · avg 55.4 Marshall 8 cities · avg 73 Mason 8 cities · avg 63.7 Mcdowell 8 cities · avg 47.8 Mercer 4 cities · avg 78.4 Mineral 9 cities · avg 50 Mingo 8 cities · avg 44.9 Monongalia 4 cities · avg 63.5 Monroe 2 cities · avg 83.7 Morgan 1 city · avg 42 Nicholas 7 cities · avg 68.5 Ohio 5 cities · avg 70.2 Pendleton 3 cities · avg 65.1 Pleasants 2 cities · avg 72.4 Pocahontas 6 cities · avg 59.8 Preston 9 cities · avg 61.9 Putnam 2 cities · avg 87.8 Raleigh 10 cities · avg 71.3 Randolph 4 cities · avg 56.9 Ritchie 2 cities · avg 48.5 Roane 3 cities · avg 77.9 Summers 2 cities · avg 79.8 Taylor 3 cities · avg 63.6 Tucker 7 cities · avg 46.8 Tyler 3 cities · avg 54.7 Upshur 2 cities · avg 73.8 Wayne 6 cities · avg 63.9 Webster 2 cities · avg 47 Wetzel 6 cities · avg 60.2 Wirt 1 city · avg 66.9 Wood 6 cities · avg 65.8 Wyoming 4 cities · avg 52

ZIP Codes

Browse West Virginia by ZIP code

Look up water quality by ZIP code to find the systems serving your area.

View all West Virginia ZIP codes →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about West Virginia's water

Is West Virginia's tap water safe to drink?

West Virginia's water quality varies by city. The statewide average grade is C (61.3/100). 39% of cities scored an A or B, while 50% received a D or F. Check your specific city for detailed results.

Which West Virginia cities have the best water quality?

The top-rated cities are Bluefield (A+), Spencer (A), Volga (A). These cities scored highest based on violation history, lead levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Which West Virginia cities have the worst water quality?

The lowest-rated cities are Richwood (F), Lester (F), Davis (F). We recommend residents in these areas consider water filtration and review their city's specific contaminant data.

How many West Virginia cities have PFAS in their water?

43 out of 248 cities tested positive for PFAS "forever chemicals" (17%). 17 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. Reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters can help reduce PFAS exposure.

Do any West Virginia cities have dangerous lead levels?

2 cities exceed the EPA lead action level of 15 ppb. Lead contamination typically comes from aging pipes and lead service lines rather than the water source itself. An NSF 53-certified filter can effectively remove lead from tap water.

West Virginia Water Quality Report