Martinsburg, WV: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 50/100
6 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Martinsburg: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Water systems serving Martinsburg record elevated violation rates against WV benchmarks - residents in affected areas may want to check their local system's current compliance status.
How Martinsburg Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Martinsburg Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 60 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0026 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 41% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,950 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.43 - above typical levels.
Martinsburg's Water Providers
Across Martinsburg, WV, residential water comes from 3 primary utilities rather than a single consolidated provider. Each system operates independently - managing its own distribution infrastructure, rate schedules, and EPA compliance filings. Federal records track 4 water systems in the area, with these top providers accounting for the majority of residential connections.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Martinsburg, West Virginia, covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 69,328 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 6 ZIP codes.
4 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Martinsburg: D (50/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Martinsburg water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0026 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 6 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 26 | 4 |
| Fluoride | Inorganic | 10 | 4 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 10 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 7 | 4 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25403 | D | 52 | 0 | Berkeley County Pswd-potomac River |
| 25405 | D | 49 | 0 | Berkeley County Pswd-potomac River |
| 25401 | — | 41 | 0 | City of Martinsburg |
| 25404 | D | 41 | 0 | Berkeley County Pswd-potomac River |
All ZIP Codes in Martinsburg
- 25401 - 41 violations
- 25402
- 25403 [D] - 52 violations
- 25404 [D] - 41 violations
- 25405 [D] - 49 violations
- 25429
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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Martinsburg Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Martinsburg's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Martinsburg Infrastructure Age
With 41% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Lead solder was a standard plumbing material before 1986, when federal law prohibited its use in new residential construction. In Martinsburg, the median build year of 1991 indicates that plumbing age is a material factor in local lead risk - with the pre-1986 share concentrated in specific neighborhoods and building types where older construction remains common.
Most homes in Martinsburg were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Martinsburg
Remediation costs in Martinsburg represent a moderate share of typical home values - worth budgeting for carefully, though within reach for most homeowners who plan ahead.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Martinsburg. The estimated $1,900–$4,233 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 91% above the West Virginia average.
Martinsburg: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Martinsburg have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 41% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Martinsburg: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Martinsburg contains 146 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $19,833. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 67% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$2,950</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Martinsburg
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Surface Water Treatment Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Martinsburg's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 41% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Martinsburg, WV