Is Charleston tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Charleston's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

82/100
Purity Score
2
Issues Found
4.5 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

2 Issues Detected in Charleston

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Charleston

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.3 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Charleston
West Virginia

253,012,530,225,303 · Elk River

Charleston Tap Water Report: Safety and Contaminants

Low Risk Updated March 2026 50,821 residents
See Best Filters for Charleston
82
Purity Score

Residents of Charleston draw from Elk River infrastructure managed by West Virginia American Water. This 2026 analysis evaluates safety, identifies any concerns, and recommends the best home filtration options.

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
3.5 ppb
Nitrate
0.6 mg/L
Arsenic
0.3 mg/L
Hardness
4.5 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Charleston's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

82 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Charleston tap water is sourced from Elk River and treated by West Virginia American Water. Overall purity score: 82/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Charleston's 2 issues.

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Explore Charleston Water Data

PFAS in CharlestonForever chemicals
Lead in CharlestonLead risk
Charleston Hard WaterHardness data
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Charleston Water FAQ

Is Charleston WV tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Charleston tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 82/100 (Good) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Charleston WV use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Charleston uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.5 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Charleston WV water and what is the TDS level?
Charleston water hardness is 4.5 grains per gallon (moderate) with a TDS of 155 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Charleston WV drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Charleston drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Charleston?
Based on Charleston's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Charleston has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

Nearby Reports

ParkersburgWest Virginia — 67/100HuntingtonWest Virginia — 82/100MorgantownWest Virginia — 82/100WheelingWest Virginia — 82/100

All West Virginia cities

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • West Virginia American Water CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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