McDowell County, West Virginia
36 ZIP codes · Avg score 74/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Across McDowell County's 36 ZIP codes, EPA compliance data shows above-average performance — violation rates are minimal, none of the county's systems have triggered health-based MCL exceedances in recent cycles, and the county's scores have stayed above the national baseline across every recent reporting period.
How McDowell County Compares
How McDowell County Compares
McDowell County scores 10 points above the West Virginia state average (64/100) and 6 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: McDowell County, West Virginia
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 20 (asthma 13.2%, diabetes 21.2%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,261, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.436% avg pipe failure probability, 64% of ZIPs at high risk
78% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across McDowell County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 33 violations. Past 5 years: 97 total (97 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,261
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
9,145 housing units in McDowell County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in McDowell County
Water safety remediation is a moderate expense relative to home values. Most homeowners can address issues through staged improvements over time.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for McDowell County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in McDowell County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Welch | 2,907 | 127 |
| 2 | GARY CITY OF | 1,633 | 110 |
| 3 | DAVY MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS | 332 | 94 |
| 4 | Mcdowell County Public Service District Berwind | 692 | 88 |
| 5 | MCDOWELL COUNTY PSD MAYBEURY | 1,648 | 86 |
14 total water systems serve McDowell County.
All ZIP Codes in McDowell County
36 ZIP codes tracked in McDowell County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24829 | Eckman | 91 | A | 3 (1 health) | — |
| 2 | 24861 | Maybeury | 91 | A | 9 (1 health) | — |
| 3 | 24815 | Berwind | 86 | A | 11 (1 health) | — |
| 4 | 24817 | Bradshaw | 86 | A | 10 (1 health) | $50K |
| 5 | 24836 | Gary | 86 | A | 28 (1 health) | $59K |
| 6 | 24878 | Premier | 84 | B | 9 (5 health) | $29K |
| 7 | 24828 | Davy | 83 | B | 8 (4 health) | $45K |
| 8 | 24853 | Kimball | 81 | B | 5 (1 health) | — |
| 9 | 24892 | War | 81 | B | 23 (1 health) | $38K |
| 10 | 24715 | Bramwell | 73 | B | 0 | $231K |
| 11 | 24724 | Freeman | 73 | B | 0 | $76K |
| 12 | 24751 | Wolfe | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 13 | 24811 | Avondale | 73 | B | 0 | $164K |
| 14 | 24816 | Big Sandy | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 15 | 24826 | Cucumber | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 16 | 24830 | Elbert | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 17 | 24831 | Elkhorn | 73 | B | 0 | $46K |
| 18 | 24848 | Jenkinjones | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 19 | 24855 | Kyle | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 20 | 24866 | Newhall | 73 | B | 0 | $17K |
| 21 | 24871 | Pageton | 73 | B | 0 | $39K |
| 22 | 24873 | Paynesville | 73 | B | 0 | $181K |
| 23 | 24879 | Raysal | 73 | B | 0 | $66K |
| 24 | 24881 | Roderfield | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 25 | 24884 | Squire | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 26 | 24887 | Switchback | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 27 | 24888 | Thorpe | 73 | B | 0 | $62K |
| 28 | 24894 | Warriormine | 73 | B | 0 | $29K |
| 29 | 24895 | Wilcoe | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 30 | 24843 | Hensley | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 31 | 24808 | Anawalt | 65 | C | 0 | $29K |
| 32 | 24850 | Jolo | 65 | C | 0 | — |
| 33 | 24813 | Bartley | 60 | C | 0 | — |
| 34 | 24844 | Iaeger | 60 | C | 0 | $66K |
| 35 | 24868 | Northfork | 60 | C | 0 | $39K |
| 36 | 24801 | Welch | 55 | C | 77 (13 health) | $52K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for McDowell County
Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around — the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 78% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for McDowell County, West Virginia
Overview
McDowell County in West Virginia covers 36 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (74/100).
10 of 36 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 29 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to West Virginia water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.