West Virginia
West Virginia sits in the South and draws its water primarily from Ohio River, Kanawha River, and aquifers. With roughly 1.77 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater.
West Virginiawater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in West Virginia
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | 114 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 65 |
| Groundwater Rule | 64 |
| TTHM | 55 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 46 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | 34 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
The 2014 Elk River chemical spill exposed source-water vulnerability that still informs policy.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, West Virginia currently tracks around moderate to severe conditions. West Virginia has 430 community water systems serving about 2 million people; EPA records show 260 of them (60.5%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of West Virginia in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 127 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 2.3 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 5.6%
- Irrigation share
- 0.2%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~3%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Ohio River
- ≈ Kanawha River
- ≈ aquifers
Common questions
Is tap water safe in West Virginia?
West Virginia has 430 community water systems serving about 2 million people. EPA records show 260 of them (60.5%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 4 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in West Virginia's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Groundwater Rule.
How much water does West Virginia use per person?
Public water systems in West Virginia withdraw about 127 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 5.6% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in West Virginia?
As of 2026-06-09, 62.7% of West Virginia is in drought (D1+) and 38.2% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in West Virginia
6 trackedCharleston
Charleston, WV water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Huntington
Huntington, WV water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Morgantown
Morgantown, WV water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Wheeling
Wheeling, WV water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Weirton Heights
Weirton Heights, WV water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in West Virginia
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExplorePFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
Explore