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Parkersburg, WV Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Parkersburg, WV — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Parkersburg's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Parkersburg Utility Board PWSID: WV3305407 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit

Lead is 1.60 ppb, 11% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 7.28 times the limit.

C

Parkersburg earns a C for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 1.60 ppb — 11% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
9 violations since 2015, 2 health-based
No violations currently open
Parkersburg's lead level vs. all West Virginia community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 1.60 ppb — 11% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 34% of West Virginia utilities
Population Served
23872
~15996 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Groundwater under the direct influence of surface water — SDWIS source code GU
Active Violations
0
9 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
11% of EPA action level
1.60 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 1.60 ppb, 11% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2024 Resolved
Groundwater Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2023 Resolved
Groundwater Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2023 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2021 Archived
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2021 Archived
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2020 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2017 Unaddressed
Simazine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.004 mg/L 2017–2019 Resolved
Groundwater Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2015 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

9 violations are on record since 2015, of which 2 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Parkersburg Utility Board
PWSID WV3305407
Water source Surface water — Groundwater under the direct influence of surface water — SDWIS source code GU
Population served 23,872
Service connections 15,996
Systems serving this area 4
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Parkersburg tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 1.60 ppb, 11% of the action level.
Does Parkersburg water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 7.28 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Parkersburg? ▼
Parkersburg Utility Board (PWSID WV3305407), one of 4 systems serving this area. Surface water. Groundwater under the direct influence of surface water — SDWIS source code GU
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-02-13. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Parkersburg Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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