States › West Virginia › McDowell County

McDowell County, WV Water Quality

Water quality data for 12 public water systems serving McDowell County, West Virginia — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 12 water systems · 12 cities
🚨
Concerns Identified — Review Your City

Multiple systems have significant violations or lead levels approaching the federal action level.

D

McDowell County Earns a D

McDowell County: 12 communities across 12 water systems. 25.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 1.17 ppb
  • 9 communities with a lead detection, 3 reporting none detected
  • 0 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 9 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 25.0% of communities have no open violations
1.17 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
12
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
25%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Welch
    1.17 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    C
  • Cucumber
    0.41 ppb
    3 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
  • Kimball
    0.48 ppb
    3 violations currently open
    D
  • Maybeury
    1.20 ppb
    8 violations currently open
    D
  • Keystone
    Not detected
    2 violations currently open
    D
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Gary
    1.43 ppb
    24 violations currently open
    F
  • Davy
    1.06 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    F
  • War
    3.90 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Raysal
    0.48 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Bradshaw
    2.34 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
County Lead Level — Median 1.17 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 1.17 ppb — 7.8% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
9
No Data
3

All Cities in McDowell County

Welch 1.17 ppb C
Gary 1.43 ppb F
War 3.90 ppb D
Raysal 0.48 ppb D
Davy 1.06 ppb F
Bradshaw 2.34 ppb D
Kimball 0.48 ppb D
Crumpler Not detected D
Keystone Not detected D
Vivian Not detected D
Maybeury 1.20 ppb D
Cucumber 0.41 ppb C
Showing 12 cities
No active violations Active violations

About McDowell County Drinking Water

McDowell County is served by 12 water systems covering 12 communities. 25% have no open violations.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 9 recorded a detection, with a median of 1.17 ppb — 8% of the federal action level. 3 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

No community here has PFAS above the federal limit on record. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 9 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is McDowell County tap water safe to drink?▼
25% of communities have no open violation. No community has PFAS above the federal limit on record.
What is the lead level in McDowell County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 1.17 ppb, 8% of the 15 ppb action level. 3 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve McDowell County?▼
12 community water systems serve 12 communities here.
← Back to West Virginia water quality overview