Upshur County, West Virginia — public water systems

How does Upshur County compare with other West Virginia counties?

Upshur County has the 36th-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 21,898 people served in total, the 26th-largest county figure in the state and 1.4% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 2,737 people, about 35% 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 Upshur County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Upshur County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (6, 75%), surface water (1, 13%) and groundwater (1, 13%). Overall, 13% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 88% 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, Buckhannon Water Board, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Upshur County?

Upshur County's active systems break down as 7 community systems (88%) and 1 transient non-community systems (13%). 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 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 (50%), private (38%) and public/private partnership (13%).