Worst Infrastructure: West Virginia

Out of 844 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in West Virginia, these areas face the highest estimated risk of water pipe failure based on infrastructure age, funding gaps, and violation history.

Statistic	Value
ZIP codes ranked	844
Highest risk	88%
Median risk	56%
Average risk	56%
State	West Virginia

Top 100 Highest Risk ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Pipe Failure Risk	Risk Level	Safety Score
1	25855	Hilltop	WV	88%	Very High	63/100
2	25936	Thurmond	WV	88%	Very High	63/100
3	25119	Kincaid	WV	86%	Very High	63/100
4	26366	Haywood	WV	84%	Very High	63/100
5	26544	Pentress	WV	84%	Very High	53/100
6	25115	Kanawha Falls	WV	82%	Very High	63/100
7	25410	Bakerton	WV	81%	Very High	45/100
8	25441	Rippon	WV	81%	Very High	40/100
9	26560	Baxter	WV	81%	Very High	63/100
10	25810	Allen Junction	WV	80%	Very High	73/100
11	25826	Corinne	WV	80%	Very High	65/100
12	25853	Helen	WV	80%	Very High	63/100
13	26404	Meadowbrook	WV	80%	Very High	55/100
14	25908	Princewick	WV	79%	Very High	40/100
15	25911	Raleigh	WV	79%	Very High	63/100
16	26435	Simpson	WV	79%	Very High	63/100
17	26438	Spelter	WV	79%	Very High	63/100
18	25040	Charlton Heights	WV	78%	Very High	63/100
19	25090	Glen Ferris	WV	78%	Very High	63/100
20	25204	Twilight	WV	78%	Very High	63/100
21	26543	Osage	WV	77%	Very High	45/100
22	25567	Sumerco	WV	76%	Very High	53/100
23	25958	Charmco	WV	76%	Very High	55/100
24	25002	Alloy	WV	75%	Very High	53/100
25	25031	Boomer	WV	75%	Very High	63/100
26	25149	Ottawa	WV	75%	Very High	73/100
27	26236	Selbyville	WV	75%	Very High	53/100
28	26289	Red Creek	WV	75%	Very High	63/100
29	26361	Gypsy	WV	75%	Very High	53/100
30	26561	Big Run	WV	75%	Very High	40/100
31	25185	Mount Olive	WV	74%	Very High	53/100
32	25186	Smithers	WV	74%	Very High	63/100
33	26120	Mineral Wells	WV	74%	Very High	79/100
34	26121	Mineral Wells	WV	74%	Very High	79/100
35	26436	Smithburg	WV	74%	Very High	55/100
36	25026	Blue Creek	WV	73%	Very High	66/100
37	25079	Falling Rock	WV	73%	Very High	65/100
38	25423	Halltown	WV	73%	Very High	40/100
39	25440	Ridgeway	WV	73%	Very High	40/100
40	25639	Peach Creek	WV	73%	Very High	73/100
41	25665	Borderland	WV	73%	Very High	65/100
42	25871	Mabscott	WV	73%	Very High	50/100
43	25932	Surveyor	WV	73%	Very High	53/100
44	25972	Leslie	WV	73%	Very High	53/100
45	26148	Macfarlan	WV	73%	Very High	63/100
46	26302	Clarksburg	WV	73%	Very High	70/100
47	26306	Clarksburg	WV	73%	Very High	73/100
48	26461	Clarksburg	WV	73%	Very High	75/100
49	25021	Bim	WV	72%	Very High	73/100
50	25126	London	WV	72%	Very High	53/100
51	25140	Naoma	WV	72%	Very High	63/100
52	25173	Robson	WV	72%	Very High	63/100
53	25647	Switzer	WV	72%	Very High	60/100
54	25916	Sabine	WV	72%	Very High	73/100
55	26276	Kerens	WV	72%	Very High	53/100
56	26298	Bergoo	WV	72%	Very High	63/100
57	26576	Idamay	WV	72%	Very High	63/100
58	25051	Costa	WV	71%	Very High	45/100
59	25109	Hometown	WV	71%	Very High	53/100
60	25118	Kimberly	WV	71%	Very High	55/100
61	25572	Woodville	WV	71%	Very High	53/100
62	25614	Cora	WV	71%	Very High	65/100
63	25646	Stollings	WV	71%	Very High	60/100
64	25686	Newtown	WV	71%	Very High	66/100
65	25691	Rawl	WV	71%	Very High	91/100
66	25943	Wyco	WV	71%	Very High	66/100
67	26102	Parkersburg	WV	71%	Very High	77/100
68	26103	Parkersburg	WV	71%	Very High	82/100
69	26106	Parkersburg	WV	71%	Very High	82/100
70	26151	Mount Zion	WV	71%	Very High	53/100
71	26230	Pickens	WV	71%	Very High	53/100
72	26502	Morgantown	WV	71%	Very High	69/100
73	26504	Morgantown	WV	71%	Very High	69/100
74	26507	Morgantown	WV	71%	Very High	64/100
75	26534	Granville	WV	71%	Very High	53/100
76	26555	Fairmont	WV	71%	Very High	79/100
77	25022	Blair	WV	70%	Very High	66/100
78	25075	Eskdale	WV	70%	Very High	63/100
79	25174	Rock Creek	WV	70%	Very High	63/100
80	25231	Advent	WV	70%	Very High	53/100
81	25261	Millstone	WV	70%	Very High	53/100
82	25402	Martinsburg	WV	70%	Very High	66/100
83	25429	Martinsburg	WV	70%	Very High	61/100
84	25811	Amigo	WV	70%	Very High	63/100
85	25827	Crab Orchard	WV	70%	Very High	55/100
86	25862	Lansing	WV	70%	Very High	53/100
87	25864	Layland	WV	70%	Very High	63/100
88	25888	Mount Hope	WV	70%	Very High	73/100
89	26434	Shirley	WV	70%	Very High	63/100
90	26568	Enterprise	WV	70%	Very High	53/100
91	26750	Piedmont	WV	70%	Very High	38/100
92	25057	Deep Water	WV	69%	Very High	53/100
93	25152	Page	WV	69%	Very High	63/100
94	25624	Henlawson	WV	69%	Very High	73/100
95	25635	Man	WV	69%	Very High	65/100
96	25928	Stephenson	WV	69%	Very High	66/100
97	26178	Smithville	WV	69%	Very High	63/100
98	26268	Glady	WV	69%	Very High	63/100
99	26349	Galloway	WV	69%	Very High	53/100
100	26443	Troy	WV	69%	Very High	55/100

Methodology

Infrastructure risk rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS 2023) — state-level 20-year funding gap per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980, when lead solder and galvanized pipes were common; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and 90th percentile lead testing results. The combined score is normalized to a 0-100% probability scale.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-07-19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pipe failure probability mean?

Pipe failure probability estimates the likelihood of water main breaks, lead contamination from corroded pipes, or service disruptions based on infrastructure age, state funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. It is not a prediction of imminent failure, but a risk assessment based on known factors.

How is infrastructure risk calculated?

The risk score combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure funding gap per capita (from EPA DWINS 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system violation and enforcement history (EPA SDWIS), and lead exposure indicators (service line probability and testing results).

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Test your tap water annually, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. Consider a whole-house water filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified). Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high risk mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure risk indicates long-term vulnerability, not current contamination. However, areas with aging pipes and high violation counts have a statistically higher chance of water quality issues. Regular testing is the best way to verify your water safety.

Worst Infrastructure: West Virginia — 2026 Rankings