CORPORATION OF SHEPHERDSTOWN
WV3301933
Consumer Confidence Report – 2026 Covering Calendar Year 2025
Why am I receiving this report?
In compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, the Shepherdstown Water Department is providing its customers with this annual water quality report. This report explains where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. The information in this report shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2025.
We are committed to providing safe, clean, and reliable drinking water. We work continuously to improve the water treatment process and to ensure compliance with all federal and state drinking water standards. We are committed to providing safe information because informed customers are our best allies. If you would like to observe the decision-making process that affects drinking water quality or if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please attend any regularly scheduled water board meeting held on the 4th Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Shepherdstown Town Hall or call Charles Coe on 304-876-2294.
Where does my water come from?
Your water comes from surface sources.
The Shepherdstown Public Works Department obtains our potable water from two sources: the Potomac River and the Opequon Creek. The Potomac River is a semipermanent source. Town Run is used as the Town’s water source only when the Potomac River is unusable, generally because of a short-term contamination issue. The Run was not used as our water source at any time in 2025. However, it is important to note that Town Run is vulnerable to the impacts of stormwater because it flows through the center of the Town. Therefore, it is incumbent on all residents to help protect the Run’s water quality. The town is working to develop a water treatment plan to address the contamination issues that may occur. The Opequon Creek is used as a backup water source when the Potomac River is unusable. Both sources are treated at our water treatment plant before being distributed to our customers.
Why must water be treated?
Untreated water contains suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants that can cause illness. Drinking water-related illnesses can be caused by microbes such as bacteria, viruses, and some parasites; disinfection byproducts; and chemical contaminants such as arsenic, lead, and other substances. The presence of contaminants in water can lead to health effects such as gastrointestinal illness, nervous system effects, and increased cancer risk. Water treatment removes contaminants and reduces the risk of illness. The Shepherdstown system maintains optimal addition of some coagulant chemicals to aid in settling and filtration for removal of solid particulate materials; addition of fluoride as a preventative for dental cavities in the community; and addition of chlorine disinfectant for removal of potential pathogens and bacterial growth.
Contaminants in Water
Drinking water, both tap water and bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides, which can be naturally occurring or result of use during agricultural, urban, or suburban activities.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and come from gas stations, urban stormwater run-off, and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised people such as those with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
Water Quality Data
The following tables list all the drinking water contaminants which were detected during the 2025 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done in 2025. The table includes only those contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. This, though representative of the water quality, is more than one year old.
Terms & Abbreviations
These terms and abbreviations are used in the federal and state regulations that govern the drinking water systems.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): the “Goal” is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to human health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL): recommended level for a contaminant that is not regulated and has no MCL.
Action Level (AL): the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements.
Treatment Technique (TT): a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Non Detect (ND): the analyte was not found at concentrations in the analytical method used.
ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L).
ppb and pCi/L: micrograms per liter (µg/L) A measure of concentration. (An Olympic-sized swimming pool filled with ping-pong balls, a ppb would be equivalent to one ping ball in that pool. One ppm would be equivalent to a thousand ping-pong balls in that pool.)
Monitoring Frequency: the frequency of sampling required by regulation.
Millirems per Year (mrem/yr): a measure of radiation absorbed by the body.
Running Annual Average (RAA): an average of sample results obtained over a defined time frame; common examples of monitoring periods are monthly, quarterly, and yearly.
Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU): in excess of 5 NTU is not noticeable to the average person. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is not noticeable to the average person. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is not noticeable to the average person, turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is not noticeable to the average person, turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is not noticeable to the average person.
Running Annual Average (RAA): an average of sample results obtained over the most current 12 months and used to determine compliance with MCLs for some contaminants.
Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA): average of sample results for samples taken at a particular monitoring location.
Disinfection by-products: As noted above, the Shepherdstown water treatment system ends in the addition of chlorine for disinfection purposes. CORPORATION OF SHEPHERDSTOWN
The disinfection process must be controlled to prevent the chlorine disinfectant side effects which can result in the formation of disease-causing pathogens (including cholera, typhoid, etc.). However, the disinfection process must be controlled to prevent the chlorine disinfectant side effects which can result in the formation of disease-causing pathogens (including cholera, typhoid, etc.). To assess the effectiveness of the control, we monitor for total trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). For regulatory purposes, it is the individual measurements concentrations that are compared to the MCL standard, not rather the running annual average.
Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and they have an increased risk of getting cancer.
| Contaminant or Indicator | Collection Date | Highest Value | Range (Low-High) | Unit | MCL | MCLG | Typical Source | ||
| TOTAL HALOACETIC ACIDS (HAA5) (RAA) | SHEET #1 45 | 2025 | 42 | 7 – 42 | 28 | ppb | 60 | 0 | By-product of drinking water disinfection |
| TOTAL TRIHALOMETHANES (TTHM) (RAA) | SHEET #1 45 | 2025 | 71 – 83 | 31 | ppb | 80 | 0 | By-product of drinking water disinfection | |
| TTMM | SHEET #1 45 | 2025 | 11 – 35 | 31 | ppb | 80 | 8 | By-product of drinking water disinfection |
Regulated Contaminants
| Contaminant | Collection Date | Highest Value | Range (Low-High) | Unit | MCL | MCLG | Typical Source |
| ANTIMONY, TOTAL | 8/4/2025 | ND | ND | ppb | 6 | 6 | Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics production; waste |
| ARSENIC | 8/4/2025 | ND | ND | ppb | 10 | 0 | Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production waste |
| BARIUM | 8/4/2025 | 0.048 | 0.048 | ppm | 2 | 2 | Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits |
| CHROMIUM | 8/4/2025 | ND | ND | ppb | 100 | 100 | Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits |
| FLUORIDE | 8/4/2025 | 0.6 | 0.6 | ppm | 4 | 4 | Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
| NITRATE | 8/4/2025 | ND | ND | ppm | 10 | 10 | Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks; sewage; Erosion of natural deposits |
| NITRITE | 8/4/2025 | ND | ND | ppm | 1.0 | 1.0 | Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks; sewage; Erosion of natural deposits |
Lead and Copper:
Lead and copper are typically not present in discriminate levels in the water leaving the treatment plant or the public distribution system. However, they can be released from materials used in the customer premise plumbing or in the service line to the premises, depending on the chemistry of the water. Your water supplier can provide information on the steps being taken to address lead in the distribution system. Residents in the Shepherdstown area should be aware that some homes may have lead in the water service line or in the home plumbing. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead in the water service line or in the home plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home’s water, you should have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
LEAD AND COPPER (Treatment Technique)
| Contaminant | Monitoring Period | 90th Percentile | Range (Low-High) | Unit | AL | Typical Source |
| COPPER | 2025-2025 | 0.108 | 0.108 | ppm |