West Virginia Water Quality Report 2026
West Virginia tap water is safe — filtration recommended based on our analysis of 5 water systems serving 183,869 residents. The average PurityMap score is 79.0/100 (Grade: B), which is 1.1 points above the national average.
- PFAS detected in 1 of 5 cities (20%). Forever chemicals require reverse osmosis filtration.
- 5 cities use chloramine or have elevated chlorine residuals. Standard Brita pitchers do not remove chloramine.
We recommend an under-sink reverse osmosis system for drinking water in PFAS-affected areas of West Virginia. RO removes 99%+ of PFAS, lead, and other contaminants. For hard water cities, add a whole-house softener.
Moderate
West Virginia is 1.1 points above the US average of 77.9/100. Hardness is 1.5 GPG below the US average of 6.3 GPG.
Cities ranked by lowest score. Click any city for the full report and filter recommendations.
| Rank | City | Score | Hardness | Lead | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkersburg | 67/100 | 5.0 GPG | 4.0 ppb | PFAS (2.5 ppt) |
| 2 | Charleston | 82/100 | 4.5 GPG | 3.5 ppb | Hardness 4.5 GPG, Lead 3.5 ppb |
| 3 | Huntington | 82/100 | 5.2 GPG | 3.8 ppb | Hardness 5.2 GPG, Lead 3.8 ppb |
| 4 | Morgantown | 82/100 | 3.8 GPG | 3.0 ppb | Hardness 3.8 GPG, Lead 3.0 ppb |
| 5 | Wheeling | 82/100 | 5.5 GPG | 4.5 ppb | Hardness 5.5 GPG, Lead 4.5 ppb |
How West Virginia's 5 cities score on the PurityMap 0–100 scale:
Water quality for the most populated cities. Click any city for details.
| City | Population | Score | Hardness | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 51K | 82/100 | 4.5 GPG | — |
| Huntington | 45K | 82/100 | 5.2 GPG | — |
| Morgantown | 31K | 82/100 | 3.8 GPG | — |
| Parkersburg | 30K | 67/100 | 5.0 GPG | PFAS |
| Wheeling | 27K | 82/100 | 5.5 GPG | — |
West Virginia generally has soft to moderate water. Average: 4.8 GPG (Moderate). Most residents do not need a softener.
PFAS have been detected in 1 of 5 cities (20%) in West Virginia. Highest: Parkersburg at 2.5 ppt. Affected: Parkersburg. A reverse osmosis filter is recommended.
All West Virginia cities have lead below 5 ppb. Average: 3.8 ppb. Individual homes with older plumbing may have higher levels.
Where West Virginia gets its drinking water, based on 5 water systems.
| Source Type | Cities | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Water | 5 | 100% |
1 cities have PFAS. Reverse osmosis is the most effective solution.
| # | City | Pop. | Score | Hardness | Lead | PFAS | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkersburg | 30K | 67/100 | 5.0 GPG (Moderate) | 4.0 ppb | ⚠️ Yes (2.5 ppt) | 175 ppm |
| 2 | Charleston | 51K | 82/100 | 4.5 GPG (Moderate) | 3.5 ppb | ✅ No | 155 ppm |
| 3 | Huntington | 45K | 82/100 | 5.2 GPG (Moderate) | 3.8 ppb | ✅ No | 180 ppm |
| 4 | Morgantown | 31K | 82/100 | 3.8 GPG (Moderate) | 3.0 ppb | ✅ No | 130 ppm |
| 5 | Wheeling | 27K | 82/100 | 5.5 GPG (Moderate) | 4.5 ppb | ✅ No | 190 ppm |
West Virginia has 5 utilities. Major: West Virginia American Water, City of Huntington Water Department, Morgantown Utility Board, Parkersburg Utility Board, City of Wheeling Water.
Sources: Elk River, Ohio River, Monongahela River.
- EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System
- EWG Tap Water Database
- State utility Consumer Confidence Reports
- USGS regional water monitoring data
PurityMap compiles publicly available data and does not perform independent testing.
5 city water quality reports available for West Virginia.
Huntington Water Quality Report
Morgantown Water Quality Report
Parkersburg Water Quality Report
Wheeling Water Quality Report
Compare water quality reports across all 50 US states