Huntington
Huntington, WV water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Huntington, WV is a small but growing city, with a population near 48,638 and the 2nd-largest community in West Virginia. Like much of West Virginia, Huntington draws its water primarily from Ohio River, Kanawha River, and aquifers.
Huntington's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across West Virginia. The 2014 Elk River chemical spill exposed source-water vulnerability that still informs policy.
Huntington sits in a state that reuses roughly 3% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences moderate to severe drought.
For the bigger picture, see the West Virginia state water profile and the related issues below.
At a glance
- Population ~48,638 (2nd-largest in West Virginia)
- Primary sources: Ohio River, Kanawha River, and aquifers
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of West Virginia in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Huntington?
Huntington is served by community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Statewide, 60.5% of West Virginia's systems have a recent health-based violation. Check your provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report for local results.
Where does Huntington get its water?
Huntington draws from the same regional sources that serve West Virginia: Ohio River, Kanawha River, aquifers.
Related water issues
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