What testing found in Parkersburg's water
PFOA, a toxic "forever chemical," was detected in Parkersburg's drinking water at an average of 29.1 parts per trillion, more than seven times the federal health limit of 4 ppt set by the EPA.
The Parkersburg Utility Board, which serves all 34,251 residents in the city, recorded PFOA in both samples collected during EPA testing. The highest single measurement reached 46.5 ppt. A second compound, PFBS, was also detected at 3.4 ppt in one of two samples. PFBS does not yet have a federal health limit.
The utility has since installed granular activated carbon treatment at its plant and reports that finished water now tests below the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA. However, the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5) data, collected between 2023 and 2026, still shows detectable PFOA in the system.
The EPA finalized these limits in April 2024 after determining there is no safe level of exposure to PFOA and PFOS. Water systems must begin compliance monitoring by 2027 and meet treatment requirements by 2029.
What this means for Parkersburg residents
PFOA is linked to serious health problems. The EPA has identified probable connections to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, and weakened immune response. The C8 Science Panel, which studied PFOA exposure in this region for years, established probable links between the chemical and kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and high cholesterol.
Pregnant women, infants, and people with compromised immune systems face higher risks from PFAS exposure. Developing fetuses and young children are particularly vulnerable because these chemicals can interfere with growth and immune system development.
People are exposed to PFAS primarily by drinking contaminated water and using it for cooking. Parents who prepare infant formula with tap water should be especially aware of contamination levels. Bathing and showering with PFAS-contaminated water poses minimal risk because these chemicals are not readily absorbed through skin.
Where these chemicals came from
Parkersburg sits at the center of one of the most documented PFAS contamination cases in American history. The DuPont Washington Works plant in Wood County, just outside the city, manufactured PFOA for decades and released the chemical into the air and water.
Attorney Rob Bilott exposed the contamination in a lawsuit that became the subject of the film "Dark Waters." His case revealed that DuPont had known about PFOA's health risks for years but continued using it to make Teflon products. The company eventually settled a class action lawsuit and funded the C8 Science Panel, which studied health effects in nearly 70,000 people exposed to contaminated water.
Chemours, which took over the Washington Works facility from DuPont, continued to release PFAS compounds into the Ohio River. On August 7, 2025, a federal judge ordered Chemours to stop discharging PFAS waste, including HFPO-DA (known as GenX), from the plant. The ruling came in a Clean Water Act lawsuit filed by the West Virginia Rivers Coalition in December 2024.
The contamination extends beyond Parkersburg's city limits. The Lubeck Public Service District, which serves residents in a separate water system nearby, has historically tested at levels approaching 45 times the federal limit for PFOA, according to the PFAS Project Lab.
What Parkersburg is doing about it
The Parkersburg Utility Board installed granular activated carbon treatment systems at its water treatment plant. The utility states that finished water now meets the EPA's 4 ppt standard for PFOA.
However, federal support for further cleanup work in West Virginia was cancelled in 2025. The Trump administration's EPA terminated a state grant that would have funded PFAS cleanup projects across the state. The cancellation was part of more than 400 grants totaling $1.5 billion that were cut, Mountain State Spotlight reported.
The August 2025 court order against Chemours requires the company to stop releasing PFAS into the Ohio River, but does not address contamination already present in groundwater and drinking water systems.
Residents can request the utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report to see current test results. The Parkersburg Utility Board is required to publish this report annually.
Steps Parkersburg residents can take today
Residents concerned about PFAS in their water can take several actions:
Contact the Parkersburg Utility Board to request the most recent Consumer Confidence Report, which shows current water quality test results. Search "Parkersburg Utility Board consumer confidence report" online to find the latest version.
Install a water filter certified to remove PFAS. Look for filters certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or Standard 58. Pitcher filters and under-sink carbon filters certified to NSF 53 can reduce PFAS. Reverse osmosis systems certified to NSF 58 are more effective but cost more. Check that the specific filter model lists PFOA and PFOS removal in its certification.
If you have an infant, use filtered water to prepare formula. Boiling water does not remove PFAS.
Attend Parkersburg Utility Board and city council meetings to ask questions about water quality and treatment plans. Check the utility's website for meeting schedules.
Learn about your right to safe drinking water and ways to advocate for stronger protections at CheckYourWater's action page.
Review the complete test results for your water system at the Parkersburg Utility Board system page.
Full test results
Complete testing data for the Parkersburg Utility Board is available on the system data page. The data comes from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5) program, with samples collected between 2023 and 2026.
UCMR 5 samples are taken at the entry point to the distribution system, before water reaches homes and before any household-level filtration. Results show what enters the distribution network, not necessarily what comes out of your tap if you use a filter.