Richwood, WV: 123 Violations - Home Safety Score unavailable
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
Richwood Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 123 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0185 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 81% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $5,460 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 17.2.
Water Systems Serving Richwood
Counting every public water system linked to Richwood, WV in federal data gives 3. The list below keeps the 3 largest by reported population served, a figure that covers each system's whole service area rather than the city alone. A household's own supplier is named on its water bill.
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Richwood, West Virginia (population ~3,115), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 6,664 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 10 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Water Sources
Richwood water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0185 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 70 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 28 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 26 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 18 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 12 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26261 | — | 123 | 10 | Richwood Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Richwood
- 26261 - 123 violations ⚠
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.
CDC Health Data for Richwood
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Richwood
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Richwood's Housing Stock?
With 81% 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
Ask the water utility whether your address in Richwood has a lead service line; its inventory can answer what a median build year of 1967 cannot.
Over half of homes in Richwood were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Richwood: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Measured against the median home value, the remediation estimate for Richwood is above the 2% line, the highest of the three tiers used on this page.
Estimated remediation costs in Richwood equal about 8.5% of the median home value; how much that burdens a household depends on its finances. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $3,540–$7,980. Home values here are 52% below the West Virginia average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Richwood
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.
Over 15 micrograms per liter: the mean of Richwood's ZIP-level lead results. Older-than-1986 homes make up 81% of the stock.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Richwood
Historical NFIP data for Richwood contains 150 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $54,375. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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 $5,460 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Richwood, WV