PFAS in Drinking Water in West Virginia
What residents of West Virginia need to know about PFAS ("forever chemicals") in drinking water — including contamination sources, which utilities have documented violations, and how to filter PFAS from tap water.
Source: EPA SDWIS, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is PFAS in drinking water a real concern in West Virginia?
Yes — West Virginia is home to one of the most significant industrial PFAS contamination sites in the world: DuPont's Washington Works plant in Wood County on the Ohio River, which has discharged PFOA into the Ohio River and surrounding environment since the 1950s. The case became the basis for the landmark DuPont PFOA litigation that drove national awareness of PFAS health risks.
Where does PFAS come from in West Virginia?
DuPont's Washington Works facility in Parkersburg, WV is the most significant PFAS source in the state and one of the most consequential in U.S. history. PFOA was discharged into the Ohio River and released into air from the plant, contaminating drinking water for communities along the Ohio River in both West Virginia and Ohio. The communities of Parkersburg, Vienna, Belpre (OH), Little Hocking (OH), and surrounding areas were exposed to PFOA in their drinking water for decades.
What should West Virginia residents know?
Parkersburg and Wood County residents, Vienna, and Ohio River corridor communities in Mason and Cabell counties face the most direct risk from DuPont/Chemours Washington Works PFOA contamination. The case has been extensively litigated — Rob Bilott's class action lawsuit against DuPont on behalf of affected residents became the basis for the film 'Dark Waters.' West Virginia residents should review their utility's current PFAS monitoring data, as the plant continues to operate under Chemours.
Key Facts
| EPA MCL (PFOA/PFOS) | 4 ppt — effective April 2024 |
| MCLG | Zero |
| Primary contamination source | DuPont/Chemours Washington Works plant (Parkersburg, Wood County) — Ohio River PFOA contamination since 1950s |
| Historical significance | 'Dark Waters' case — foundational PFAS corporate liability lawsuit; drove national PFAS regulatory action |
| DuPont settlement | $671 million class action settlement for Wood County-area residents |
| State regulator | West Virginia DHHR — Drinking Water |
| Health effects | PFOA linked to 6 diseases by DuPont's own scientific panel: kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, preeclampsia, hypercholesterolemia, ulcerative colitis |
| Effective treatment | GAC or RO — Parkersburg area utilities have installed treatment after decades of exposure |
Why PFAS Matters in West Virginia
West Virginia's Washington Works contamination is arguably the most historically significant PFAS contamination case in the United States — and certainly one of the most extensively litigated. DuPont began using PFOA (which it purchased from 3M) at the Washington Works Teflon manufacturing plant in the 1950s, discharging it into the Ohio River and surrounding environment for decades. Attorney Rob Bilott's lawsuit, filed on behalf of a local farmer in 1999 and eventually becoming a class action, produced internal DuPont documents showing the company knew PFOA was toxic and was contaminating the region's water supply and kept it secret. The litigation resulted in a $671 million settlement, establishment of a scientific panel that concluded PFOA caused six diseases, and ultimately helped drive the EPA's decision to regulate PFAS as a class. The Chemours plant continues to operate and is now regulated more stringently.
Historical Context
The DuPont/Washington Works PFOA case is the foundational story of PFAS corporate liability in America. Rob Bilott's 20-year legal battle — described in his book 'Exposure' and the film 'Dark Waters' — produced the scientific evidence that linked PFOA to serious disease, drove DuPont and Chemours to pay over $1 billion in settlements, and directly informed the EPA's PFAS regulatory agenda.
West Virginia PFAS Regulation
West Virginia DHHR participates in UCMR5 monitoring. The state's most significant PFAS source is Chemours' Washington Works plant in Wood County (Parkersburg area) — the same facility at the center of the foundational DuPont PFAS litigation that exposed PFOA health effects to public scrutiny. The Ohio River in the Parkersburg area has documented PFAS contamination, affecting downstream water intakes. West Virginia follows the federal MCL with no additional state standard.
Largest West Virginia Water Utilities
No PFAS violations on record in EPA SDWIS for West Virginia utilities in our database. Browse the largest utilities to review their full water quality record.
What Are PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)?
PFAS are a family of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and AFFF firefighting foam. Their carbon-fluorine bonds do not break down in the environment or the body — hence the name “forever chemicals.” AFFF used at military bases is the single largest source of PFAS in U.S. drinking water.
Full PFAS overview — national data, health effects, all 50 statesWho Should Pay Closest Attention
Parkersburg, Vienna, and rural Wood County WV residents, along with communities downstream along the Ohio River in Mason and Cabell counties, face the most direct historical and ongoing PFAS risk. Ohio River communities downstream in Ohio (Belpre, Marietta, Little Hocking, Lubeck) also face this shared contamination legacy.
Residents near military bases with AFFF use history
Private well owners near military or industrial sites
Pregnant residents and families with young children
Residents in communities with documented PFAS detections
Anyone who has consumed water above 4 ppt for an extended period
Residents near airports, fire training areas, or industrial manufacturers
How to Check Your Situation in West Virginia
- 1
Identify your water utility using the ZIP lookup below or by browsing the West Virginia utility directory on this site.
- 2
Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — it must report PFAS monitoring results under UCMR5 and the new MCL.
- 3
Check the EPA's ECHO database for your utility's monitoring history. Look for PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, and related compound results.
- 4
Contact your utility directly and ask for their most recent PFAS test results and whether they are implementing treatment under the 2024 MCL.
- 5
If you use a private well near a military base, airport, or industrial facility, order a PFAS panel test from a state-certified laboratory. Tests typically cost $150–$400.
- 6
If PFAS is detected above 4 ppt in your source water, install a certified NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system or an NSF/ANSI 53-certified activated carbon filter rated for PFAS removal.
How to Remove PFAS from Tap Water
Reverse Osmosis (Best)
90–99% removal — NSF/ANSI 58 certified systems only
Certified Activated Carbon
Effective with NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification — verify before buying
Boiling concentrates PFAS. Standard pitcher filters and water softeners do not remove PFAS. Always verify NSF certification before purchasing.
Take Action Now
Look up your West Virginia utility's PFAS monitoring history on the PFAS Watchlist below.
If your utility has detected PFAS above 4 ppt, install an NSF/ANSI 58-certified reverse osmosis system at your drinking tap.
Private well owners near military or industrial sites should order a PFAS panel test ($150–$400 at a state-certified lab).
Request your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report — PFAS results must be disclosed under the new 2024 MCL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
PFAS — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with PFAS records
West Virginia PFAS Watchlist
Live utility PFAS monitoring data
West Virginia State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 90–99% of PFAS
Activated Carbon Filter Guide
NSF/ANSI 53/58 certified options for PFAS
Arsenic in Drinking Water
Another priority contaminant
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.
Find Your Utility
State Regulator
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources ↗