What was found in Martinsburg'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 1895 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5590 µg/L — ROCKY GLEN MANUFACTURED HOUSING COMMUNIT · 861 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1330 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5093 µg/L — ROCKY GLEN MANUFACTURED HOUSING COMMUNIT · 861 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1078 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 490 µg/L 49% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2,175 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 90.95 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 370.55 µg/L — VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2,175 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 102.224 µg/L 128% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 16.75 µg/L 112% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 92.95 µg/L — VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2,175 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 42.9 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 75.525 µg/L — MARTINSBURG CITY OF · 16,250 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 62.652 µg/L 104% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 55.5435 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 33.518 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 28.6275 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 26.963 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 22.09 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 10.11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.352 µg/L — MARTINSBURG CITY OF · 16,250 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 5.056 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.615 µg/L — WVAW - VALLEY WATER AND SEWER-DEERWOOD · 219 people · 2018 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 6.06455 pCi/L 40% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.38 pCi/L — WVAW - VALLEY WATER AND SEWER-DEERWOOD · 219 people · 2013 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.638 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.4 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.48 µg/L — MARTINSBURG CITY OF · 16,250 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 4 µg/L 67% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.795 µg/L 7.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: MARTINSBURG CITY OF · 16,250 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 2.8 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Highest in the city: MARTINSBURG CITY OF · 16,250 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.9980 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.21 µg/L — MARTINSBURG CITY OF · 16,250 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.1 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: MARTINSBURG CITY OF · 16,250 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.9260 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Highest in the city: MARTINSBURG CITY OF · 16,250 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.6810 pCi/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: BERKELEY ESTATES · 94 people · 2014 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Chlordane | 0.0329 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: MARTINSBURG CITY OF · 16,250 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER · 69,372 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0073 mg/L — CHESTNUT RIDGE WATER SYSTEM · 104 people · 2025 | 7/7 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Martinsburg
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BERKELEY COUNTY PSWD-POTOMAC RIVER | 69,372 |
| MARTINSBURG CITY OF | 16,250 |
| VA MEDICAL CENTER | 2,175 |
| ROCKY GLEN MANUFACTURED HOUSING COMMUNIT | 861 |
| WVAW - VALLEY WATER AND SEWER-DEERWOOD | 219 |
| CHESTNUT RIDGE WATER SYSTEM | 104 |
| BERKELEY ESTATES | 94 |
Frequently asked questions about Martinsburg tap water
Is Martinsburg tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Martinsburg. 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 Martinsburg?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Martinsburg, West Virginia to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Martinsburg's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Martinsburg include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Nitrite, Copper. 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.