What was found in Charleston's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 876.5 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 450 µg/L 4.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 310 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 164.75 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 102.44 µg/L 128% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 82 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 38.02 µg/L 63% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 20.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 17.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 15.66 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 5.02 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.57 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.31 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 2 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.7900 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 0.2000 pCi/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2014 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.1000 pCi/L 2% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2014 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST · 209,283 people · 2025 | 1/1 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Charleston
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| WVAWC-KANAWHA VALLEY DIST | 209,283 |
Frequently asked questions about Charleston tap water
Is Charleston tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 19 contaminants in the water serving Charleston. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Charleston?
1 public water supplier report drinking-water monitoring for Charleston, West Virginia to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Charleston's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Charleston include Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.