Water System Report WV

Bethlehem

EPA ID: WV3303514 · 2,968 people served · 1 ZIP code

For the full five-year period covered by EPA monitoring, Bethlehem has supplied tap water to 2,968 residents with no violations of any type on record.

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

2,968
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$165K
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 1 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Bethlehem Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$58,625
Median Household Income
40,445
Service Area Population
44%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
82%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Bethlehem serves a community with a median household income of $58,625 and an estimated 40,445 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.

Environmental Justice Note: 44% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Bethlehem's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
70th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Ohio 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. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.

Infrastructure Risk

72 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

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 2 detections recorded.

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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in West Virginia

0 violations
City of Welch
2,907 people
B 77 violations
C 10 violations
Mount Hope Water Assoc
2,870 people
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $500
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $3,200

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:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,200 (one-time) vs. $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

Bethlehem (EPA ID: WV3303514) is a community water system in West Virginia that serves approximately 2,968 people from surface water sources.

This system serves ZIP code 26003 in Wheeling.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

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 Bethlehem (WV3303514) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bethlehem water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Bethlehem has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Bethlehem serve?

Bethlehem serves approximately 2,968 people across 1 ZIP code in West Virginia.

Where does Bethlehem get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
1,203
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 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 2,968
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

Should I use a water filter?
Bethlehem meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Bethlehem serve?
Bethlehem serves approximately 2,968 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Bethlehem's water source?
Bethlehem draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Bethlehem's service area?
The Bethlehem service area has a median household income of $58,625. EPA EJScreen data classifies 44% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Bethlehem get its water?
Bethlehem's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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