We read 15 results from Parkersburg Utility Board’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 34,251 people · Water system ID WV3305407 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GenX (HFPO-DA, a PFAS)highest measured · range 4.4 to 18.3 · printed as 0.0183 ppb · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 18.3 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.8x the 10 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 10 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.83 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal4.1x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest measured · range 67.4 to 79.7 · printed as 0.0797 ppb · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 79.7 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 202920x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest measured · range 3.1 to 4.2 · printed as 0.0042 ppb · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 4.2 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.1x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Bariumsingle sample · Treatment plant · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.04 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.78 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chromium (total)single sample · Treatment plant · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.71 ppb | None set | 100 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.16 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 9 to 13 · Distribution system (Cintas 40 Broadhead Lane) · 2025 report, page 3 | 13 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 34 to 52 · Distribution system (Cintas 40 Broadhead Lane) · 2025 report, page 3 | 52 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridesingle sample · Treatment plant · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.64 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)single sample · Treatment plant · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.36 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)highest measured · range 2.2 to 2.7 · printed as 0.0027 ppb · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 2.7 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| PFBA (a PFAS)highest measured · range 6.6 to 7.8 · printed as 0.0078 ppb · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 7.8 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)highest measured · range 3 to 3.4 · printed as 0.0034 ppb · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 3.4 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Parkersburg Utility Board’s water between Jun 2023 and Dec 2023. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA46.5 pptFound in 2 of 2 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFBS3.4 pptFound in 1 of 2 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: GenX (HFPO-DA, a PFAS), PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
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