We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in West Virginia to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 36 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Weirton water report →Davisville, West Virginia
Davisville has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Davisville water report →Reader, West Virginia
Reader has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Reader water report →Vienna, West Virginia
Vienna has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Vienna water report →Maidesville, West Virginia
Maidesville has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Maidesville water report →Saint Albans, West Virginia
Saint Albans has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Saint Albans water report →Masontown, West Virginia
Masontown has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Masontown water report →Star City, West Virginia
Star City has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Star City water report →Maidsville, West Virginia
Maidsville has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Maidsville water report →Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Morgantown water report →Triadelphia, West Virginia
Triadelphia has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Triadelphia water report →Kenova, West Virginia
Kenova has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Kenova water report →Ceredo, West Virginia
Ceredo has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ceredo water report →Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Wheeling water report →Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Charles Town water report →Lavalette, West Virginia
Lavalette has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lavalette water report →Valley Grove, West Virginia
Valley Grove has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Valley Grove water report →Bellville, West Virginia
Bellville has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bellville water report →Baltimore, West Virginia
Baltimore has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Baltimore water report →Chester, West Virginia
Chester has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Chester water report →Wallace, West Virginia
Wallace has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Wallace water report →Nutter Fort, West Virginia
Nutter Fort has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Nutter Fort water report →Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Martinsburg water report →Wellsburg, West Virginia
Wellsburg has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Wellsburg water report →Mannington, West Virginia
Mannington has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Mannington water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 355 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 7 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 348 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weirton | WV | 36 | 18 | 1 | 18,633 |
| 2 | Davisville | WV | 27 | 16 | 1 | 34,251 |
| 3 | Reader | WV | 27 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | Vienna | WV | 33 | 15 | 2 | 12,507 |
| 5 | Maidesville | WV | 26 | 15 | 0 | 2,235 |
| 6 | Saint Albans | WV | 26 | 14 | 0 | 13,696 |
| 7 | Masontown | WV | 26 | 14 | 0 | 2,369 |
| 8 | Star City | WV | 26 | 14 | 0 | 2,207 |
| 9 | Maidsville | WV | 26 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Morgantown | WV | 25 | 14 | 0 | 64,644 |
| 11 | Triadelphia | WV | 25 | 14 | 0 | 10,220 |
| 12 | Kenova | WV | 25 | 14 | 0 | 9,991 |
| 13 | Ceredo | WV | 25 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Wheeling | WV | 24 | 14 | 0 | 29,899 |
| 15 | Charles Town | WV | 24 | 14 | 0 | 15,220 |
| 16 | Lavalette | WV | 24 | 14 | 0 | 7,293 |
| 17 | Valley Grove | WV | 24 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Bellville | WV | 23 | 14 | 1 | 10,377 |
| 19 | Baltimore | WV | 23 | 14 | 0 | 94 |
| 20 | Chester | WV | 22 | 14 | 0 | 3,220 |
| 21 | Wallace | WV | 27 | 13 | 0 | 2,752 |
| 22 | Nutter Fort | WV | 26 | 13 | 0 | 1,832 |
| 23 | Martinsburg | WV | 24 | 13 | 0 | 34,786 |
| 24 | Wellsburg | WV | 23 | 13 | 0 | 3,468 |
| 25 | Mannington | WV | 23 | 13 | 0 | 1,946 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in West Virginia?
Based on 2026 data, Weirton, WV has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: March 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
