Raleigh County, West Virginia — public water systems

How does Raleigh County compare with other West Virginia counties?

Raleigh County has the 17th-most active public water systems among the 72 counties listed for active West Virginia systems in EPA records; among the 52 with 3 or more systems, the median has 10. Its systems report 73,123 people served in total, the 6th-largest county figure in the state and 4.5% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 4,570 people, about 125% above the West Virginia average of 2,032. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Raleigh County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Raleigh County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (11, 69%), groundwater (4, 25%) and surface water (1, 6.3%). Overall, 25% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 75% on surface water, compared with 65% and 35% across West Virginia. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, Beckley Water Company, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Raleigh County?

Raleigh County's active systems break down as 13 community systems (81%), 2 non-transient non-community systems (13%) and 1 transient non-community systems (6.3%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (56%), private (38%) and state government (6.3%).