DOI: 10.5066/p13zntd3
title: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Drinking Water at Select Public Water Systems in West Virginia, 2024 (ver. 2.0, September 2025)

description: These data were collected to understand the occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water samples at selected public water systems in West Virginia identified to have detections for PFAS above laboratory reporting levels in previously collected raw-water samples (McAdoo and others, 2022). These data are stored in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) but are not available to the public from that platform because West Virginia State Law §22-26-4, and USGS policy concerning the release of sensitive water related information, prohibits the release of public water system infrastructure location information. This USGS data release serves as the public release of available data for this project and provides a reference location for all users.

Description of Available Datasets:
These data are available in Excel (.xlsx) files that contain water-quality and quality-assurance results. The Excel files are duplicated as tab-delimited text files to increase accessibility to nonproprietary formats.
The files titled WVDEP_PFAS_FinishedWater_Results contain analytical results for PFAS in drinking water collected at 109 sites located in West Virginia.
The files titled WVDEP_PFAS_FinishedWater_Quality_Assurance contain associated field blanks, lab blanks, and replicates used for quality control. Lab blanks are used to assess contamination imparted by the analytical process. Field blanks were collected using certified analyte-free water at the sampling point and used to assess possible cross contamination from sampling materials and sampling technique in the field. Field replicates were collected concurrently with the environmental sample and used to understand the variability of results.
The attached XML file titled WVDEP_PFAS_FinishedWater_Metadata contains metadata explaining the provenance of the data and should be thoroughly read to understand data structure and limitations.
The files titled WVDEP_PFAS_FinishedWater_Data_Dictionary may be used as a reference to explain codes, terms, and abbreviations used in these datasets.
The files titled WVDEP_PFAS_Ongoing_Precision_and_Recovery contain quality assurance samples reported by the laboratory which establishes additional confidence in results over time.
The attached txt file titled version_history_v2.0 contains description of changes to datasets made in September 2025.

Sample Collection, Data Validation, and Quality Assurance:
Samples were collected at each public water system’s main finished-water sampling point. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 533 (Rosenblum and Wendelken, 2019) and EPA Method 537.1 (Shoemaker, 2020) were used to determine PFAS concentrations in all samples. Samples were analyzed at SGS Wilmington in North Carolina. Reporting and detection levels for PFAS results are specific to the analyte, sample matrix, instrumentation, and laboratory performance. Results throughout this dataset that are reported with a "less than" qualifier represent values that were not detected above the reporting level for that sample and specific analyte. The reporting levels shown in this dataset are synonymous with the minimum reporting level as defined by Rosenblum and Wendelken (2019). A combination of field blanks, laboratory method blanks, isotopically labeled compound recoveries, and ongoing precision and recovery samples were used to assess field techniques and validity of the reported results. Finished water results recorded in the file titled WV_PFAS_Finished_Water_Results met all quality assurance criteria, and no additional qualification was required.

References:
McAdoo, M.A., Connock, G.T., and Messinger, T., 2022, Occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and inorganic analytes in groundwater and surface water used as sources for public water supply in West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2022–5067, 37 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20225067.
Rosenblum, L., and Wendelken, S.C., 2019, Method 533, Determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water by isotope dilution anion exchange solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Document EPA 815-B-19-020, 52 p., https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-12/documents/method-533-815b19020.pdf.
Shoemaker, J.A., 2020, Determination of selected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water by solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry Version 2.0: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Document EPA/600/R-20/006, 50 p.
 
First release: July 2025
Revised: September 2025 (ver. 2.0)