Water Quality in Elk Garden, WV: 42 Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems
1 water system · 1 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 42 violations across 1 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Elk Garden. This is compliance evidence, not a property-level tap-water verdict.
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Elk Garden
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26717 | 42 | 5 | View report → |
Water Quality Overview
Elk Garden, West Virginia has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 1 ZIP codes. This page reports typed compliance facts and does not relabel the multi-source Home Safety Score as a drinking-water grade.
The available EPA records report 42 violations, including 5 health-based violations across 1 directly mapped ZIP record with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Elk Garden is 0.0020 mg/L; the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to a water system's own 90th-percentile result and is not a safety threshold (EPA's health goal for lead is zero). No exceedances appear among the 1 ZIP records with known lead status.
With 74% of homes built before 1986, Elk Garden has a higher-than-average risk of lead from older plumbing. Lead solder was banned in 1986, and homes built before this date may have lead in pipes, solder joints, or fixtures.
Water Systems Serving Elk Garden
Elk Garden is served by 1 community water system regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. About 1,421 people live in the area (1 ZIP code, Census); this is not the systems' reported service population.
Each water system is identified by a Public Water System ID (PWSID) and is required to:
- Test for over 90 regulated contaminants on a regular schedule
- Report results to the EPA and state regulators
- Issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all customers
- Take corrective action when violations occur
EPA records list enforcement actions against water systems serving Elk Garden. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Elk Garden
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your specific water system data, including contaminant levels and violation history
Request your CCR - your water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results for all monitored contaminants
Get a home test - certified kits cost $20–$50 and test for lead, bacteria, and common contaminants. Professional lab tests ($150–$400) cover a broader panel
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can remove specific contaminants. Reverse osmosis removes the broadest range; activated carbon is effective for chlorine and many organics
Check for advisories - monitor your local utility website and local news for boil water advisories or system alerts
Contaminants Detected in Elk Garden Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Elk Garden's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | N/A | 3 | 1 | No |
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | N/A | 2 | 1 | Yes |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 0.1 mg/L | 1 | 1 | No |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | Organic | 0.006 mg/L | 1 | 1 | No |
| Atrazine | Organic | 0.003 mg/L | 1 | 1 | No |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Organic | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | Organic | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.06 mg/L | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.08 mg/L | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| Xylenes, Total | Organic | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
| Dichloromethane | Organic | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | Organic | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | Organic | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
| Vinyl chloride | Organic | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
The standard column shows the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) except for lead and copper, whose value is an action level that triggers corrective steps and is not an MCL. Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL and treatment-technique violations.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year health-based EPA violations recorded for water systems serving Elk Garden (this history covers health-based records only):
| Year | Health-based violations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Health-based violations have increased from 1 in 2024 to 2 in 2026. This trend warrants monitoring.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems serving Elk Garden. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2026-03-11 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-02-14 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-02-14 | State Filed Judgment |
| 2026-02-06 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-02-06 | State Filed Judgment |
| 2025-12-23 | State Informal Action |
| 2025-10-01 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-09-11 | State Filed Judgment |
| 2025-08-28 | State Informal Action |
| 2025-08-14 | State Filed Judgment |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2026-03-11.
Elk Garden vs. Nearby West Virginia Cities
How Elk Garden's water quality compares to similar cities in West Virginia:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Garden | 1 | 42 | 1 | 1,421 |
| Lester | 1 | 52 | 2 | 1,431 |
| Matewan | 1 | 180 | 2 | 1,410 |
| Tornado | 1 | 63 | 2 | 1,408 |
Common Questions About Elk Garden Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Elk Garden, West Virginia:
Is Elk Garden water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Elk Garden's 1 water system uses a single source. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Elk Garden tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 5 health-based violations; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for Elk Garden? A NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter for lead removal is a good general choice. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Elk Garden vs. West Virginia Average
Understanding how Elk Garden compares to the broader West Virginia average helps contextualize your local water quality. Factors like water source, treatment methods, and infrastructure age all contribute to differences between cities in the same state.
To see how individual neighborhoods compare, check the ZIP code reports below - water quality can vary significantly even within Elk Garden.
ZIP Codes in Elk Garden
Elk Garden spans 1 ZIP code. EPA water-system coverage is available for 1 directly mapped ZIP code. Check each ZIP code for detailed contaminant data, violation history, and system information.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO database
- Filter recommendations: NSF/ANSI certified products
Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.