BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER vs WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST
Water quality comparison — risk levels, violations, PFAS records, and contaminants
Quick Answer
WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST has a lower risk classification (safe). BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER has 0 open health-based violations and 116 PFAS records. WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST has 0 open health-based violations and 116 PFAS records.
West Virginia · WV3300218
Low Concern
Minor detections below regulatory limits. Routine monitoring adequate.
0
Open violations
116
PFAS records
West Virginia · WV3302016
No Concerns Detected
Water meets all safety standards with no detected exceedances.
0
Open violations
116
PFAS records
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER | WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST |
|---|---|---|
| State | West Virginia | West Virginia |
| Risk Level | Low Concern | No Concerns Detected |
| Population Served | 34,786 | 209,283 |
| Open Health Violations | 0 | 0 |
| Total Violations | 20 | 3 |
| PFAS Records | 116 | 116 |
| Ownership | Local | Private |
| Service Type | Surface water | Surface water |
| City Served | Martinsburg | Charleston |
Contaminants in Violation Records
BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER
- Nitrate
- Lead
WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST
- Coliform (TCR)
Key Differences
BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER has a low risk rating vs. safe for WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST.
What Should I Do?
If either utility shows open violations or elevated PFAS records, consider:
- Installing a reverse osmosis filter — removes PFAS, lead, arsenic, nitrates, and most heavy metals.
- Requesting your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for the most current test results.
- Ordering a certified lab water test if you want contaminant-specific data for your address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is safer — BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER or WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST?
WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST has a lower risk classification (safe). WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST has 0 open health-based violations compared to 0 for the other system.
What does "open health-based violation" mean?
An open health-based violation means a water system has exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or failed to meet a treatment technique — and the violation has not yet been resolved. These are the most serious type of water quality violations.
How current is this data?
Violation data comes from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), which is updated as utilities report. PFAS data comes from EPA's UCMR 5 monitoring (2023–2025). Risk levels are recalculated daily.
What does PWSID mean?
PWSID stands for Public Water System ID — a unique federal identifier assigned to each community water system. You can use it to look up a system in EPA's ECHO database.