Comprehensive Overview of Water Quality

Through the Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) undertakes water quality checks of the state's water body every two years. The report addresses the requirements of Sections 303(d) and 305(b) of the Clean Water Act and contains an overview of the state of water quality and characterizes impaired waters that fail to meet the water quality standards of the state. Impaired waters refer to those capabilities that do not aid befitting purposes like supplying people with drinking water, the propagation of aquatic life, or recreation. The audit in 2024 is still inspecting lakes, wetlands, and streams in the state to check the adherence to the standards of environmental assessment.

West Virginia Water Quality Challenges

West Virginia faces several significant water quality challenges:​

• PFAS Water Pollution: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS), colloquially termed asforever chemicals, have been found to contaminate the water used by Americans, especially in the Eastern Panhandle and the Ohio River Valley. Studies conducted at West Virginia University have found several PFAS hotspots in the state of West Virginia.

• Industrial Pollution: Companies such as the Chemours Washington Works factory have been cited for releasing hazardous PFAS in the community water, especially in the Ohio River around Parkersburg. This has resulted in legal suits that feature the Clean Water Act, raising the issue of concern regarding the industrial pollution.

• Effects of Mining: The process of coal mining caused water pollution and cases of contaminated water being released into the creeks in the region, e.g., The Pinnacle Mining complex released contaminated water into the creeks in the region, hence polluted drinking water and health effect on the locals. ​

• Aging Infrastructure: Infrastructure declines: A large number of people use water systems that do not meet the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act, so it is necessary to arrange appropriate developments. In 2023, about 25 percent of the West Virginia public water systems had health-based violations.

State and Local Efforts to Improve Water Quality

West Virginia has initiated several programs to address water quality issues:​

• Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF): Funding is offered to finance waste water facility construction, upgrade/expansion with the aim of correcting the water quality issues.

• New Source §319 Nonpoint Source Program: This program is also authorized by the Clean Water Act and it provides financing to projects that lessen nonpoint source pollution that includes agricultural runoff by restoring watersheds.

• Infrastructure Investments: Since fiscal year 2017 the state has invested more than 961 million dollars in water and sewer projects including a 225 million dollar allocation in the 2024 special legislative session.

Impact of Climate Change on Water Quality

Climate change poses significant risks to West Virginia's water quality:​

Heightened Flooding: The increased floods have worsened the cases of water pollution as well as overburdening infrastructures in this state. It is projected that the amount of precipitation that happens during the winter and spring seasons will go up and therefore this is an increased risk of floods.

Altered Hydrology: Roy Martin Wilvos Because of alterations in precipitation and temperature, hydrology may change, causing an increase in stream flows, alterations to stream temperatures, and possible concentration of pollutants, which may affect the aquatic ecosystem. It is believed that droughts will be even stronger as greater loss of soil moisture during droughts occurs.

Associated impacts on Agriculture: The climatic variability impacts on water supply to the agricultural sector, such that water supplies become less predictable and hence more fertilizer and pesticide could be used which are known to wash-off to the water bodies.