Martinsburg, WV: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 50/100
6 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Martinsburg: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
If you live in Martinsburg, WV, the lower-tier grade here is a signal to check the water system that serves your address and, if you have concerns, to test your own tap.
How Martinsburg Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Martinsburg Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 60 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0026 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 41% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 14.43.
Martinsburg's Water Providers
More than one public water system is linked to Martinsburg, WV: federal records tie 4 systems to the area, and the 3 with the largest reported service populations are shown below. Which of them supplies a particular address depends on where the property sits, and a water bill or the utility can confirm it.
- 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 of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 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
6 of 6 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 26 | 4 |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 10 | 4 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 10 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 7 | 4 |
| Lead and Copper 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 recorded for mapped water systems
- 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). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
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. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
When a home in Martinsburg was built matters for lead because federal rules adopted in 1986 limited how much lead new plumbing could contain; the local median build year is 1991. A median sits in the middle of a range, so some homes are older and some newer, and past repairs may have changed the pipes in either group. A plumber can identify the materials inside a home, and a lab test measures what reaches the tap.
Most homes in Martinsburg were built after 1986; lead exposure at a tap still depends on its service line and plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Martinsburg
Of the three cost-context tiers - low, moderate and elevated - Martinsburg is in the low one.
Estimated remediation costs in Martinsburg can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 91% above the West Virginia average.
Martinsburg: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
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 $500 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. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Consumer Confidence Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Martinsburg: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 41% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Martinsburg, WV