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Public water system record

McDowell County PSD-Big Four

Serves Welch and Kimball, McDowell County, WV · 363 people served

Federal records show 1 health-based violation and 14 monitoring/reporting issues for McDowell County PSD-Big Four in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a Groundwater Rule violation that EPA lists as archived, not resolved.

  • WV3302471
  • WELCH
  • WV
  • 363 served

System profile

Source water Groundwater
ZIP 24801
EPA system ID WV3302471

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

Health-based violations, last 10 years
1
Resolved
0
Unresolved
0
Archived by EPA
1
Any acute record
No
Monitoring issues, last 10 years
14

Key facts

  • McDowell County PSD-Big Four draws water from 1 well.
  • Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by EPA, February 2003.
  • Record on file since 1991, with 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.

Check whether McDowell County PSD-Big Four serves your address

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Health-based violations

Since October 2016

Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.

Contaminant Rule family Start date Status Acute
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
 140 Sep 1, 2024 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No

Monitoring and reporting issues

Since October 2016

Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.

Issue Start date Status
Public Notice
OTHER
 Dec 15, 2024 Resolved
Public Notice
OTHER
 Feb 13, 2021 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
 Jul 1, 2019 Resolved
Nitrate
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2019 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
 Oct 1, 2018 Resolved
Groundwater Rule
Monitoring and reporting
 Feb 1, 2018 Resolved
Arsenic
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2017 Resolved
Public Notice
OTHER
 Feb 14, 2015 Resolved
Public Notice
OTHER
 Oct 31, 2014 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
 Oct 1, 2014 Resolved
Public Notice
OTHER
 Feb 7, 2014 Resolved
Radium-228
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2014 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2014 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
 Dec 30, 2013 Resolved

Full record since 1991

EPA's records for McDowell County PSD-Big Four go back to 1991. Before October 19, 2016 they list 2 health-based violations (2 resolved) and 69 monitoring or reporting violations.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
1990s 2 8
2000s 0 42
2010 to October 18, 2016 0 19
October 19, 2016 to 2019 0 5
2020s 1 2

Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Surface Water Treatment Rule, began September 1997, Resolved.

Show all 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
Contaminant Start date Status
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
 Sep 30, 1997 Resolved
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 May 1, 1992 Resolved

Enforcement actions

West Virginia regulators and EPA took 5 formal enforcement actions against McDowell County PSD-Big Four and issued 5 boil water orders between 1996 and 2003. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in February 2003.

Date By Action Violations covered
Feb 11, 2003 EPA Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Consumer Confidence Rule
May 3, 2002 West Virginia Boil water order 1 violation
Mar 22, 2002 West Virginia Boil water order 1 violation
Mar 1, 2002 EPA Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Consumer Confidence Rule
Dec 28, 2001 West Virginia Boil water order 1 violation
Apr 26, 2001 EPA Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Consumer Confidence Rule
Dec 29, 2000 West Virginia Boil water order 1 violation
Sep 29, 2000 West Virginia Boil water order 1 violation
Jun 6, 2000 EPA Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Consumer Confidence Rule
Jan 16, 1996 West Virginia Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Lead and Copper Rule

What the violations mean

Groundwater Rule

1 incident

The system did not complete a treatment step or action that the Groundwater Rule requires (a treatment technique violation).

The utility had to notify customers about this violation.

Where the water comes from

McDowell County PSD-Big Four draws water from 1 well.

Annual water quality report

McDowell County PSD-Big Four must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.

Systems serving 500 or fewer people may meet the rule by telling customers the report is available on request, so you may need to ask McDowell County PSD-Big Four for a copy.

Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search

Testing your own water

To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by West Virginia.

Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells