Community Water System · PWS WV3305103
Cowen Psd
Cowen, West Virginia 26206 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 3,098 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 3,098
- People served
- 557
- EPA violations
- 16
- Health-based
- No PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 557 drinking-water violations at Cowen Psd, 3% of them health-based - above the West Virginia per-system average.
- 557
- Total EPA violations on record
- 3%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 3,098
- People served by this system
- 0
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Cowen Psd
Cowen Psd is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 3,098 residents in Cowen, West Virginia (Webster County) through 1,427 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 557 total violations for this system , of which 16 (3%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 492 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2024.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 34 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.
Across West Virginia, EPA tracks 774 public water systems serving 1,597,057 people, with 187,590 cumulative violations and 11,480 health-based violations on record. About 99% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 242.4 violations. Statewide, 46 of 102 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (45.1%).
Cowen Psd's 557 violations sit above the West Virginia average.
All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 1,427
- County
- Webster
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 0
- Monitoring Violations
- 492
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 16
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 34 | 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MON | 31 | 2021 |
| TTHM | MR | 30 | 2021 |
| Public Notice | Other | 24 | 2023 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | MR | 19 | 2023 |
| Chlorine | MR | 17 | 2021 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 17 | 2020 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 11 | 2020 |
| Chromium | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Mercury | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Antimony, Total | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Beryllium, Total | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Selenium | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Vinyl chloride | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Trichloroethylene | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Benzene | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Styrene | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Barium | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Cadmium | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Nickel | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| Thallium, Total | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | MR | 10 | 2022 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | MR | 10 | 2022 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFHxA | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 7/22/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 7/22/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 7/22/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 7/22/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 7/22/2024 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 7/22/2024 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 7/22/2024 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 7/22/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 7/22/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 7/22/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 7/22/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 7/22/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 7/22/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 7/22/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 7/22/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 7/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 7/22/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 7/22/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 4/22/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 4/22/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 4/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 4/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 4/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 4/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 4/22/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 4/22/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 4/22/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 4/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 4/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 4/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 4/22/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 4/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 4/22/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 4/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 4/22/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 4/22/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 4/22/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 4/22/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 4/22/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
Verify This Water System
The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Cowen Psd.
EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:
View PWS ID WV3305103 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
West Virginia Drinking Water Authority
West Virginia's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.
Find WV regulator via EPA SDWISViolation Timeline
Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.
| Year (latest) | Contaminant | Category | Count | EPA Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Consumer Confidence Rule | Other | 9 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 7000 |
| 2023 | Public Notice | Other | 24 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 7500 |
| 2023 | CARBON, TOTAL | MR | 19 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 2920 |
| 2023 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 4 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 0300 |
| 2022 | Chromium | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 1020 |
| 2022 | Mercury | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 1035 |
| 2022 | Antimony, Total | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 1074 |
| 2022 | Beryllium, Total | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 1075 |
| 2022 | Selenium | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 1045 |
| 2022 | 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 2378 |
| 2022 | cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 2380 |
| 2022 | DICHLOROMETHANE | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 2964 |
| 2022 | o-Dichlorobenzene | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 2968 |
| 2022 | Vinyl chloride | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 2976 |
| 2022 | trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | MR | 10 | SDWIS / WV3305103 / 2979 |
How Cowen Psd Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Cowen Psd | West Virginia avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 557 | 242.4 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 16 | 14.8 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | None | 45.1% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 3,098 | 2,063 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 774 regulated public water systems in West Virginia.
Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
| Contaminant | Federal MCL / Action Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) | Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique |
| Arsenic | 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) | Health-based MCL since 2006 |
| Total Coliform | Treatment technique (RTCR) | Indicator organism, monitoring trigger |
| PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) | 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) | Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026) |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cowen Psd water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Cowen Psd serve? ▼
What type of violations does Cowen Psd have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Cowen Psd water? ▼
What water source does Cowen Psd use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.