Health Violations Found WV 3 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

City of Wellsburg

EPA ID: WV3300517 · 4,019 people served · 1 ZIP code

City of Wellsburg carries 8 open EPA violations that remain unresolved in the federal system — approximately 4,019 people fall within its service area.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

D · 46
Avg Safety Score
4,019
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
18
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
12
Contaminants Flagged
$127K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 2 (2021) to 2 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Wellsburg Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$55,729
Median Household Income
7,951
Service Area Population
17%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
82%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Wellsburg serves a community with a median household income of $55,729 and an estimated 7,951 residents across its service area. Approximately 82% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Wellsburg's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
70th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Brooke County, West Virginia rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.

Infrastructure Risk

75 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
0 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 100% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Wellsburg compares to EPA limits

Lead 1 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Lead and Copper Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 5 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.004 ppt, PFOS: 0.004 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in West Virginia

C 66 violations
0 violations
D 20 violations
C 14 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $600
PFAS Treatment $600
Total Estimated Cost $3,600

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,665
10 years
$15,330
20 years
$30,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,600 (one-time) vs. $15,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

City of Wellsburg, (EPA ID: WV3300517) is a community water system in West Virginia that serves approximately 4,019 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 26070 in Wellsburg.

Average Home Safety Score: D (46/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

3 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 8 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2025 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Monitoring Unresolved
February 13, 2025 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
November 18, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Unresolved
November 17, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Unresolved
October 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
November 16, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2023 Lead Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 4 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 2 Yes
Lead Inorganic 1 No
Contaminant 1052 Other Violation 1 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Chlorite Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No
Contaminant 0800 Other Violation 1 Yes
E. coli Microbiological 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
26070 0.0002 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by WV or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Wellsburg (WV3300517) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Wellsburg water safe to drink?

City of Wellsburg has recorded 3 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does City of Wellsburg serve?

City of Wellsburg serves approximately 4,019 people across 1 ZIP code in West Virginia.

Where does City of Wellsburg get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
58
Detections
7
Latest sample
11/21/2023
Highest analyte
PFHxS: 5.2 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFHxS 5.2 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFBS 4.8 ppt
PFOA 4.6 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxA 3.8 ppt
PFPeA 3.3 ppt

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
1,633
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2022-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 4,019
Reported to West Virginia

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Wellsburg safe to drink?
City of Wellsburg has a D safety grade based on 18 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in City of Wellsburg's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Lead and Copper Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does City of Wellsburg serve?
City of Wellsburg serves approximately 4,019 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is City of Wellsburg's water source?
City of Wellsburg draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Wellsburg's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0002 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Wellsburg's service area?
The City of Wellsburg service area has a median household income of $55,729. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Wellsburg get its water?
City of Wellsburg's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

City of Wellsburg (EPA ID: WV3300517) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems West Virginia City of Wellsburg

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