Health Violations Found WV 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Parkersburg Utility Board

EPA ID: WV3305407 · 34,251 people served · 9 ZIP codes

EPA compliance records for Parkersburg Utility Board show 2 unresolved violations — findings that remain open and are tracked at the federal level, covering a service territory of approximately 34,251 people.

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

B · 76
Avg Safety Score
34,251
People Served
9
ZIP Codes Served
6
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0016 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
4
Contaminants Flagged
$133K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 4 (2021) to 2 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Parkersburg Utility Board Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$63,348
Median Household Income
63,151
Service Area Population
59%
Disadvantaged Population
71th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
67%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Parkersburg Utility Board serves a community with a median household income of $63,348 and an estimated 63,151 residents across its service area. Approximately 67% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 59% 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

Parkersburg Utility Board'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
57th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
66th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Wood County, West Virginia rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 66th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

55 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
12 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 82% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Parkersburg Utility Board compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 3 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects
Chlorite 1 mg/L (100% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 1 mg/L
Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children

What This Means For You

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 0700 at 1 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. 23 detections recorded. 8 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 8 exceed 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 →

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in West Virginia

0 violations
C 57 violations
City of Fairmont
30,586 people
C 18 violations
Wheeling Water
29,899 people
D 10 violations
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,067
PFAS Treatment $533
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $200
Total Estimated Cost $2,200

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

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

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,200 (one-time) vs. $10,330 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

Parkersburg Utility Board (EPA ID: WV3305407) is a community water system in West Virginia that serves approximately 34,251 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 9 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (76/100)

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

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 2 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
October 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
October 29, 2023 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 3 No
Chlorite Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 1 Yes

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
26101 0.0016 mg/L No N/A
26102 0.0016 mg/L No N/A
26103 0.0016 mg/L No N/A
26104 0.0016 mg/L No N/A
26106 0.0016 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate 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: 3 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 6 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Parkersburg Utility Board (WV3305407) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Parkersburg Utility Board water safe to drink?

Parkersburg Utility Board has recorded 1 health-based violation 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 Parkersburg Utility Board serve?

Parkersburg Utility Board serves approximately 34,251 people across 9 ZIP codes in West Virginia.

Where does Parkersburg Utility Board get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
58
Detections
3
Latest sample
12/13/2023
Highest analyte
PFOA: 46.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 46.5 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFBS 3.4 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:

36
Confirmed Lead
173
Galvanized — Replacement Required
13,189
Unknown Material
2,818
Confirmed Non-Lead

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 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 34,251
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 →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Parkersburg Utility Board safe to drink?
Parkersburg Utility Board earns a B safety grade with 6 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Parkersburg Utility Board's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Chlorite, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Contaminant 0700. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 3 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 Parkersburg Utility Board serve?
Parkersburg Utility Board serves approximately 34,251 people with drinking water across 9 ZIP codes.
What is Parkersburg Utility Board's water source?
Parkersburg Utility Board draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Parkersburg Utility Board's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0016 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Parkersburg Utility Board's service area?
The Parkersburg Utility Board service area has a median household income of $63,348. EPA EJScreen data classifies 59% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Parkersburg Utility Board get its water?
Parkersburg Utility Board'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 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

Parkersburg Utility Board (EPA ID: WV3305407) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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