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Delaware Water Quality
79
Utilities in database
1.0M
Residents served
0
With open violations
34
PFAS monitored
Quick Answer
Delaware public drinking water is served by 79 EPA-tracked water systems, providing service to approximately 1.0 million residents through public utilities. No open health-based violations are currently recorded across tracked systems in the EPA federal database. 34 systems have official PFAS monitoring records from the EPA UCMR 5 program (2023–2025). About 24% of DE residents use private wells, which fall outside federal utility compliance monitoring.
No open health-based violations are currently recorded in the EPA SDWIS database for Delaware's tracked water systems. Always verify with your utility's Consumer Confidence Report for annual test results.
Drinking Water in Delaware
Delaware has 79 community water systems serving approximately 1.0 million residents. Primary water sources include groundwater. The most commonly reported contaminants include disinfection byproducts, nitrates. 24% of Delaware residents rely on private wells. DNREC holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Safest Large Utilities
Delaware systems with no open health violations serving 10,000+ residents.
Utilities in Delaware
76–79 of 79Key Contaminant Concerns in Delaware
These contaminants appear most frequently in Delaware utility records or pose elevated risk in this region based on EPA data.
Nitrates
Nitrate (NO₃⁻) is a nitrogen-containing compound that forms naturally through the decomposition of organic matter. At elevated concentrations — almost always caused by human activity — nitrate is converted in the digestive system to nitrite, which then reacts with hemoglobin to form methemoglobin, a form of hemoglobin that cannot carry oxygen. In the body, nitrite also reacts with amines in food to form N-nitroso compounds (nitrosamines) — known carcinogens classified by the IARC as Group 2A (probable human carcinogens). The United States applies over 23 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually, making agricultural runoff the dominant source of nitrate contamination in U.S. groundwater.
EPA limit: 10 mg/L
DBPs
When utilities add chlorine to water to kill pathogens, it reacts with dissolved organic matter — leaves, algae, soil — to produce disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Over 600 DBPs have been identified. The EPA regulates two groups: total trihalomethanes (TTHMs, including chloroform) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). DBP levels tend to be highest in surface water systems and in warm months when organic matter is elevated.
EPA limit: 80 µg/L (TTHMs) / 60 µg/L (HAA5)
City Water Reports in Delaware
Tap water quality pages for Delaware cities — violations, PFAS records, utility profiles, and official source links.
Independent Water Testing
Find a certified lab in Delaware
Utility compliance records show what water systems report to the EPA. An independent test from a certified laboratory confirms what's actually in your tap water. Delaware labs can test for PFAS, lead, nitrates, bacteria, and dozens of other contaminants.
Explore Water Quality in Delaware
Deer Meadows
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
Bayshore Mobile Home Park
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
Town of Henlopen Acres
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
PFAS monitoring records — Delaware
34 water systems in Delaware with EPA UCMR 5 records
Lead in Delaware drinking water
State-specific lead data, violation utilities, and testing guidance
PFAS in Delaware drinking water
State-specific PFAS data, MCL context, and treatment options
Certified water testing labs in Delaware
Labs certified for PFAS (EPA 533/537.1), lead, and bacteria testing
Water treatment options
Reverse osmosis, activated carbon, and filtration guides with cost ranges
Data sources and methodology
How WaterUtilityReport.com sources and validates official EPA data
Common Questions About Delaware Drinking Water
Does Delaware drinking water have PFAS?
34 Delaware water systems have EPA UCMR 5 PFAS monitoring records (2023–2025)
Which Delaware water utilities have open violations?
Browse Delaware utility compliance records and violation history
How do I test my water in Delaware?
State-certified labs for PFAS (EPA 533/537.1), lead, nitrate, and bacteria testing
What treatment removes PFAS from DE tap water?
Reverse osmosis removes PFAS, lead, arsenic, and nitrates — cost, maintenance, and NSF certification explained
What do Delaware PFAS records tell me about my water?
EPA limits, health context, and what UCMR 5 detection above MRL means for your water
How is Delaware water quality data sourced here?
EPA SDWIS violations, UCMR 5 PFAS records, and CCR data — sources, accuracy notes, and limitations
Delaware Water FAQs
Data sources: Utility compliance and violation data from EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System). PFAS monitoring records from EPA UCMR 5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5, 2023–2025). Contaminant data from EPA and ATSDR public references. This page summarizes public records — it is not a compliance determination. Methodology →
Last updated: 2026-04-23