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Kanawha County Water Security Profile

The Kanawha County Water Security Profile provides a snapshot of the demographic, socioeconomic, and resource contexts affecting safe drinking water, water, and flooding in the state.

 

This story map can be used as an educational resource and planning tool.

 

Each module provides an overview of a different topic area as it relates to safe drinking water, water, and flooding in the county. Navigate in the sequential order or use the following links to access a specific subject.

 

Socio-Economic Factors

 

Social Vulnerability


Flood Plains

 

Number of SDWA Violations

 

Environmental Justice Communities

 

 

Socio-Economic Factors

The median household income is $43,598, $17,774 below the national level, ranking 3 among the 55 West Virginia counties. 82,263 people are actively participating in the labor force and the unemployment rate is currently 4.3%. 

 

32,592 (18.10%) people in the county live in poverty including 8,994 (25.00%) children. 10,787 of these households in poverty are headed by single mothers. Click on Kanawha county on the map to see more poverty indicators.  

 


 

Socio Economic Indicators Table:

Employment

Participating in Labor Force: 82,263

Unemployment: 4.3%

Poverty 

Poverty Amount: 32,592 

Poverty Under 18: 8,994 

Single Female Head of Household in Poverty: 10,787

Housing 

Total Units: 93,788  

Owner Occupied: 60,618  

Median Income: $28,459

Median Gross Rent: 712 

Social Vulnerability

Overall Vulnerability is calculated by the longest average time out of compliance per system and the highest racial, ethnic, and language vulnerability.

 

In Kanawha County, the Overall Social Vulnerability Score is 0.50. Possible scores range from 0 (lowest vulnerability) to 1 (highest vulnerability). A score of 0.50 indicates a High Level of vulnerability. 

 

According to the Center of Disease Control, "Every community must prepare for and respond to hazardous events, whether a natural disaster like a tornado or a disease outbreak, or an anthropogenic event such as a harmful chemical spill. The degree to which a community exhibits certain social conditions, including high poverty, low percentage of vehicle access, or crowded households, may affect that community’s ability to prevent human suffering and financial loss in the event of a disaster. These factors describe a community’s social vulnerability."

Flood Plain

The impact of flooding is one of the most disastrous types of natural events to occur in the environment. Flooding is initiated by intense rainfall in a short period of time. Flooding can be detrimental to communities that do not have the resources or money to recover after such events. Building resilience to these events requires an understanding of socio-economic standings and the social vulnerability of a community.

 

According to "A Place-based Assessment of Flash Flood Hazard and Vulnerability in the Contiguous United States", "Vulnerability is composed of exposure, sensitivity, and response or resilience to the compound effects of both human and environmental systems".

 

In Kanawha County, the averages are the following

 

9% of the population is living in a 100-year flood plain zone 

 

33% of the population is living in 100 + 50 flood plain zone meaning a combined floodplain zone

 

16% of the population is living under the poverty level

 

17% of the population is living under the poverty level in a flood plain zone.

 

 

Studies have discussed that climate change will increase the likelihood of flooding and other extremely rare disastrous events. With this in-store, further attention is needed for disaster risk management and planning strategies.

Number of SDWA Violations

The Safe Drinking Water Act was enacted in 1974 to secure clean drinking water for the people across the United States. The purpose of the SDWA is to allow individuals to feel comfort in knowing that their drinking water is contaminant free. However, this was not the case for all communities. Throughout the US we’ve identified an alarming pattern of neglect and injustice to communities related to race, ethnicity, and language vulnerability. 

 

The Safe Drinking Water Act protects people from 100 various chemicals. These chemicals were chosen by the Environmental Protection Agency to be the most harmful to communities when exposed. However, there are still dangerous chemicals that are not included in the list that are in violation of the law, such as polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances or PFASs. 

 

The Safe Drinking Water Act is monitored by the EPA. It is the responsibility of each water treatment facility to follow the guidelines and monitor the water accordingly. The EPA must set a goal for contaminants at a level that is healthy for people. There is a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG). There is also a maximum contaminant level (MCL) which allows for a small amount of contaminant in water but factors in costs and ability of removal. There are three different types of violations that a facility can potentially come into. These violations include health-based violations, which mean there are high levels of a contaminant in the water that exceed the health-based standard. Public Notification Violation, in which a facility does not release notice to the public of contaminants in drinking water. Lastly, failure to Monitor and Report Violation, which includes neglecting to monitor water and submit monitoring reports to the primary agency or EPA.

Drinking Water Violations and Environmental Justice Communities

From our inquiries, we have discovered that there is a relationship between racial vulnerability and slow and inadequate enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act in communities. Counties are shaded by the intersection of the increasing rate of drinking water violations and increasing racial, ethnic, and language vulnerability.

 

The event of water systems in violation of the SDWA could result in potential health effects. Potential health effects include cancer, developmental effects, compromised fertility, nervous system effects, and gastrointestinal disease. 

 

It is significant to acknowledge that our analysis does not include communities that obtain their drinking water from private wells or springs. The SDWA does not include private wells. Maintenance and testing are the obligation of the well owner. 

 

The counties that are shaded dark brown represent Environmental Justice Communities. Environmental Justice Communities are populations that are most susceptible to environmental and health hazards compared to other neighborhoods.

Kanawha County Water Security Profile

The Kanawha County Water Security Profile provides a snapshot of the demographic, socioeconomic, and resource contexts affecting safe drinking water, water, and flooding in the state.

 

This story map can be used as an educational resource and planning tool.

 

Each module provides an overview of a different topic area as it relates to safe drinking water, water, and flooding in the county. Navigate in the sequential order or use the following links to access a specific subject.

 

Socio-Economic Factors

 

Social Vulnerability


Flood Plains

 

Number of SDWA Violations

 

Environmental Justice Communities

 

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Socio-Economic Factors

The median household income is $43,598, $17,774 below the national level, ranking 3 among the 55 West Virginia counties. 82,263 people are actively participating in the labor force and the unemployment rate is currently 4.3%. 

 

32,592 (18.10%) people in the county live in poverty including 8,994 (25.00%) children. 10,787 of these households in poverty are headed by single mothers. Click on Kanawha county on the map to see more poverty indicators.  

 


 

Socio Economic Indicators Table:

Employment

Participating in Labor Force: 82,263

Unemployment: 4.3%

Poverty 

Poverty Amount: 32,592 

Poverty Under 18: 8,994 

Single Female Head of Household in Poverty: 10,787

Housing 

Total Units: 93,788  

Owner Occupied: 60,618  

Median Income: $28,459

Median Gross Rent: 712 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Social Vulnerability

Overall Vulnerability is calculated by the longest average time out of compliance per system and the highest racial, ethnic, and language vulnerability.

 

In Kanawha County, the Overall Social Vulnerability Score is 0.50. Possible scores range from 0 (lowest vulnerability) to 1 (highest vulnerability). A score of 0.50 indicates a High Level of vulnerability. 

 

According to the Center of Disease Control, "Every community must prepare for and respond to hazardous events, whether a natural disaster like a tornado or a disease outbreak, or an anthropogenic event such as a harmful chemical spill. The degree to which a community exhibits certain social conditions, including high poverty, low percentage of vehicle access, or crowded households, may affect that community’s ability to prevent human suffering and financial loss in the event of a disaster. These factors describe a community’s social vulnerability."

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Flood Plain

The impact of flooding is one of the most disastrous types of natural events to occur in the environment. Flooding is initiated by intense rainfall in a short period of time. Flooding can be detrimental to communities that do not have the resources or money to recover after such events. Building resilience to these events requires an understanding of socio-economic standings and the social vulnerability of a community.

 

According to "A Place-based Assessment of Flash Flood Hazard and Vulnerability in the Contiguous United States", "Vulnerability is composed of exposure, sensitivity, and response or resilience to the compound effects of both human and environmental systems".

 

In Kanawha County, the averages are the following

 

9% of the population is living in a 100-year flood plain zone 

 

33% of the population is living in 100 + 50 flood plain zone meaning a combined floodplain zone

 

16% of the population is living under the poverty level

 

17% of the population is living under the poverty level in a flood plain zone.

 

 

Studies have discussed that climate change will increase the likelihood of flooding and other extremely rare disastrous events. With this in-store, further attention is needed for disaster risk management and planning strategies.

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Number of SDWA Violations

The Safe Drinking Water Act was enacted in 1974 to secure clean drinking water for the people across the United States. The purpose of the SDWA is to allow individuals to feel comfort in knowing that their drinking water is contaminant free. However, this was not the case for all communities. Throughout the US we’ve identified an alarming pattern of neglect and injustice to communities related to race, ethnicity, and language vulnerability. 

 

The Safe Drinking Water Act protects people from 100 various chemicals. These chemicals were chosen by the Environmental Protection Agency to be the most harmful to communities when exposed. However, there are still dangerous chemicals that are not included in the list that are in violation of the law, such as polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances or PFASs. 

 

The Safe Drinking Water Act is monitored by the EPA. It is the responsibility of each water treatment facility to follow the guidelines and monitor the water accordingly. The EPA must set a goal for contaminants at a level that is healthy for people. There is a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG). There is also a maximum contaminant level (MCL) which allows for a small amount of contaminant in water but factors in costs and ability of removal. There are three different types of violations that a facility can potentially come into. These violations include health-based violations, which mean there are high levels of a contaminant in the water that exceed the health-based standard. Public Notification Violation, in which a facility does not release notice to the public of contaminants in drinking water. Lastly, failure to Monitor and Report Violation, which includes neglecting to monitor water and submit monitoring reports to the primary agency or EPA.

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Drinking Water Violations and Environmental Justice Communities

From our inquiries, we have discovered that there is a relationship between racial vulnerability and slow and inadequate enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act in communities. Counties are shaded by the intersection of the increasing rate of drinking water violations and increasing racial, ethnic, and language vulnerability.

 

The event of water systems in violation of the SDWA could result in potential health effects. Potential health effects include cancer, developmental effects, compromised fertility, nervous system effects, and gastrointestinal disease. 

 

It is significant to acknowledge that our analysis does not include communities that obtain their drinking water from private wells or springs. The SDWA does not include private wells. Maintenance and testing are the obligation of the well owner. 

 

The counties that are shaded dark brown represent Environmental Justice Communities. Environmental Justice Communities are populations that are most susceptible to environmental and health hazards compared to other neighborhoods.

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

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