Well water in Jefferson County, West Virginia
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Testing strongly recommended
tested well samples in Jefferson County exceeded the EPA limit for nitrate (10 mg/L), based on public data from USGS Water Quality Portal.
The strongest signal is PFOS: 38% of 13 local samples were above the limit, too few samples to carry the headline but first on the test list below.
1,817 test results across 15 contaminants from at least 264 wells, 1956 to 2024; nitrate has the most at 700. Data refreshed September 15, 2026.
Compiled by Nick at Well Water Nerd from public records. How these pages are built
An estimated 20,899 people in Jefferson County get their drinking water from a private well, per USGS 2015 county water use. That is about 37% of residents.
Separately, the USGS national arsenic model estimates that 2% of the 20,899 people on private wells in Jefferson County draw water above 10 ug/L (the model's range is 1% to 2%), from geology and well depth rather than local tests.
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Jefferson County. Above limit means above the EPA maximum contaminant level; where EPA has no enforceable limit, the row shows a health guideline or nuisance level instead.
| Contaminant | Above limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOS 2020 to 2022 | 13 | 46% | 0 | 14 | 4 ng/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1956 to 2024 | 700 | 98% | 4.59 | 279 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| E. coli 1999 to 2022 | 19 | 5% | 0 | 27 | 0 MPN/100mL EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1957 to 2024 | 140 | 94% | 0.2 | 4.5 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1988 to 2024 | 48 | 23% | 0 | 1.1 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1999 to 2024 | 42 | 60% | 0.11 | 3 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1993 to 2024 | 32 | 91% | 0.442 | 2.34 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 2002 to 2024 | 28 | 100% | 0.002 | 0.016 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| PFOA 2020 to 2022 | 13 | 62% | 1.6 | 3.4 | 4 ng/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1956 to 2024 | no limit | 320 | 100% | 11 | 538 | 250 mg/L nuisance level |
| Iron 1956 to 2024 | no limit | 169 | 86% | 10 | 5,420 | 300 ug/L nuisance level |
| Sodium 1966 to 2024 | no limit | 130 | 100% | 6.73 | 402 | 20 mg/L health guideline |
| Manganese 1970 to 2024 | no limit | 129 | 64% | 1 | 680 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
| Radon 1988 to 2013 | no limit | 30 | 100% | 670 | 8,700 | 2,000 pCi/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Radium (226 + 228) (4).
Over time
Share of samples above the limit by period. A cell needs ten samples to show; a comparison needs twenty in each period. Later periods sample fewer wells, and often the ones already known to have a problem.
| Contaminant | before 2000 | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 24%614 samples | 13%52 samples | n/a | 27%26 samples |
| Fluoride | 1%97 samples | 0%26 samples | n/a | 0%13 samples |
| Arsenic | n/a | 0%23 samples | n/a | 0%13 samples |
| Lead | n/a | 0%23 samples | n/a | 0%13 samples |
| Uranium | n/a | 0%12 samples | n/a | 0%13 samples |
| Copper | n/a | 0%11 samples | n/a | 0%13 samples |
Nitrate above the limit in Jefferson County rose from 13% of 52 samples in the 2000s to 27% of 26 in the 2020s.
Fluoride has held within a few points between the two most recent periods with enough samples.
Closer than the county
See the sampled wells near your address
The same records, drawn around one point: which wells within a few miles were sampled and what they found, how deep the wells next to you were drilled, and any leaking tank or cleanup site within a mile.
Check my addressWhat this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are pfos (38% of 13 samples), nitrate (24% of 700 samples), and e. coli (5% of 19 samples). A well next door can differ sharply from yours because bedrock fractures, well depth and plumbing all matter, so these rates describe the area, not your tap.
Chloride, Iron, and Manganese are widespread in local groundwater. They are mainly a staining and taste problem, but high manganese also carries a health advisory for infants.
What to test for in Jefferson County
- 1PFOS38% of 13 local samples were above the limit.
- 2Nitrate24% of 700 local samples were above the limit.
- 3E. coli5% of 19 local samples were above the limit.
- 4Fluoride<1% of 140 local samples were above the limit.
- 5RadonMedian local reading is 670 pCi/L.
- 6CopperDetected in 100% of local samples.
- 7ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
Test your Jefferson County well for PFOS, nitrate and E. coli
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
Just want bacteria checked first? Tap Score coliform and E. coli test, $99. Coliform and E. coli are the tests every well needs every year.
Want a quick look before paying for a lab? Home well water test strips on Amazon check hardness, iron, pH and nitrate in minutes. They are a screen, not a result: arsenic, bacteria, uranium and PFAS need a certified lab.
Affiliate links: the merchant pays us a commission and the price is the same for you. It does not change what the data above says. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Where to get a well tested in West Virginia: certified labs, state programs and prices.
Already have results back? Get your lab report read against the Jefferson County numbers, $29. Every line explained, ranked by what matters, with the fix for each.
The rock under Jefferson County
Valley and Ridge carbonate-rock aquifers
Sandstone and carbonate-rock. Layered sandstone and limestone means a well may draw from either. Hardness and iron are routine, and the limestone layers can carry bacteria and nitrate from the surface quickly, so test for both yearly.
Classification from the USGS Principal Aquifers of the United States (national map, 2003 edition, GIS release 2015), read at the county centroid. A single well can sit in a different unit, especially near a boundary.
Official help in West Virginia
Two places to start that are not selling anything: the state program that answers private well questions, and its list of labs certified to run drinking water tests. A certified lab is the difference between a result you can act on and a number.
- Individual Water Supplies, WV OEHS
- Water Quality Laboratories Certified in WV, WV OEHS
Treatment that fits the local profile
PFOS
Granular activated carbon whole-house; Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange
Nitrate
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
E. coli
Shock chlorination and fix the well cap or casing; UV disinfection whole-house; Chlorination system
Fluoride
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
Iron
Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
Systems we would look at first
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For PFOS
Under-sink reverse osmosis system
under-sink or countertop, about $300
Look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification listing the contaminant you need removed.
For PFOS
Whole-house PFAS carbon system
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $3,000
Granular activated carbon certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA and PFOS; replace media on schedule.
For PFOS
Aquasana SmartFlow reverse osmosis
under-sink or countertop, about $225
Certified to NSF/ANSI 58 and 53 to reduce arsenic (96%, pentavalent), fluoride (90%), lead (99%), nitrate, nitrite and PFOA/PFOS at the kitchen tap, with a remineralizer.
For E. coli
UV disinfection system
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $900
Fix the well cap and casing first; UV keeps bacteria from returning.
For E. coli
Aquasana Rhino Well Water with UV
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $2,871
Whole-house system built for wells: sediment pre-filter, KDF and carbon, and a UV lamp rated to kill 99.99% of bacteria and viruses. It does not remove arsenic, nitrate, uranium or radon.
For iron
Iron and manganese oxidizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,800
Air-injection or greensand media; fixes staining at the source.
Free, no obligation
Get on the list for a free in-home water test in Jefferson County
No water treatment company serves Jefferson County through Well Water Nerd yet. We are signing licensed companies on county by county: they test at your tap for free, walk you through the numbers, and quote treatment only if something needs fixing. Leave your details and you are first in line. Nothing is shared until a company joins for Jefferson County, and you get an email naming it first.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Jefferson County?
Arsenic was detected in 23% of 48 public well samples in Jefferson County, and 0% were above the EPA limit of 10 ug/L. Arsenic has no taste or smell; a lab test is the only way to know your level.
How high is radon in well water in Jefferson County?
The median radon level across 30 public samples in Jefferson County was 670 pCi/L, with a high of 8,700 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Jefferson County?
Test for bacteria and nitrate every year. Test once for arsenic, uranium, radon, fluoride, manganese and PFAS, then again every three to five years or after any change in taste, color, or plumbing.
Counties near Jefferson County
Closest first. Groundwater does not stop at a line on a map, so the next county over is a fair second opinion.
Want the numbers themselves? Download the West Virginia dataset as CSV, every county and town, with the sources named.
Sources
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 1,817 samples in Jefferson County. Data from the Water Quality Portal, a service of USGS, EPA and USDA; groundwater samples collected by USGS and cooperators. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
- USGS national arsenic model (Ayotte 2017): estimated share of 20,899 people on private wells in Jefferson County above 10 ug/L of arsenic, from geology, well depth and land use. County estimates of domestic well users with arsenic above 10 ug/L from the USGS national logistic regression model (Ayotte, Medalie and Qi, 2017), with private well population from the USGS 2015 county water-use compilation (Dieter and others, 2018). Retrieved September 15, 2026.
Non-detects count as samples and are treated as zero when computing medians. Exactly at the limit counts as not above it. A sample belongs to the town containing the well's reported coordinates.