Delaware PFAS results from EPA's final data
Report published Nov 14, 2026 · EPA UCMR 5 final data file of Oct 15, 2026 (samples collected 2023–2025) · Method · National results →
11 Delaware water systems serving 637,113 people had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit in EPA's final round of nationwide PFAS testing: 32% of the 34 Delaware systems tested, compared with 11% nationally.
Highest PFOA or PFOS averages in Delaware
- Newark Water Department Newark · PFOA22.6 ppt
- Artesian Water Company Hockessin · PFOA22.3 ppt
- Veolia Water Delaware, Inc Wilmington · PFOA19.3 ppt
- Georgetown Water Department Georgetown · PFOA18 ppt
- Rehoboth Beach Water Department Rehoboth Beach · PFOA10.6 ppt
- Smyrna Water Department Smyrna · PFOA9.6 ppt
- Dewey Beach Water Department Dewey Beach · PFOA9.55 ppt
- Wilmington Water Department Wilmington · PFOA7.73 ppt
- Lewes Board of Public Works Lewes · PFOS7.15 ppt
- Bethany Bay Pump District Millville · PFOS5.6 ppt
- Artesian Southern Sussex Regional Water System Bethany Beach · PFOS4.5 ppt
- Artesian Northern Sussex Regional Water System Lewes · PFOA2.85 ppt
- Rehoboth Pump District (TUI) Rehoboth Beach · PFOA2.2 ppt
Chart data as a table
| System | ppt |
|---|---|
| Newark Water Department · Newark · PFOA | 22.6 |
| Artesian Water Company · Hockessin · PFOA | 22.3 |
| Veolia Water Delaware, Inc · Wilmington · PFOA | 19.3 |
| Georgetown Water Department · Georgetown · PFOA | 18 |
| Rehoboth Beach Water Department · Rehoboth Beach · PFOA | 10.6 |
| Smyrna Water Department · Smyrna · PFOA | 9.6 |
| Dewey Beach Water Department · Dewey Beach · PFOA | 9.55 |
| Wilmington Water Department · Wilmington · PFOA | 7.73 |
| Lewes Board of Public Works · Lewes · PFOS | 7.15 |
| Bethany Bay Pump District · Millville · PFOS | 5.6 |
| Artesian Southern Sussex Regional Water System · Bethany Beach · PFOS | 4.5 |
| Artesian Northern Sussex Regional Water System · Lewes · PFOA | 2.85 |
| Rehoboth Pump District (TUI) · Rehoboth Beach · PFOA | 2.2 |
Largest systems above a limit
| # | System | People served |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artesian Water Company Hockessin Above: PFOA, PFOS | 231,114 |
| 2 | Wilmington Water Department Wilmington Above: PFOA | 107,976 |
| 3 | Veolia Water Delaware, Inc Wilmington Above: PFOA | 100,495 |
| 4 | Bethany Bay Pump District Millville Above: PFOS | 52,684 |
| 5 | Newark Water Department Newark Above: PFOA, PFOS | 40,000 |
| 6 | Dewey Beach Water Department Dewey Beach Above: PFOA | 31,000 |
| 7 | Rehoboth Beach Water Department Rehoboth Beach Above: PFOA | 25,000 |
| 8 | Artesian Southern Sussex Regional Water System Bethany Beach Above: PFOS | 20,145 |
| 9 | Smyrna Water Department Smyrna Above: PFOA, PFOS | 11,813 |
| 10 | Lewes Board of Public Works Lewes Above: PFOS | 9,627 |
All 11 Delaware systems above a limit
Every Delaware community water system whose UCMR 5 results averaged above a 2024 federal PFAS limit, largest first. Systems that were not tested are not listed: not tested is not the same as not detected.
Full list: 11 systems, largest first
| System | People served |
|---|---|
| Artesian Water Company Hockessin Above: PFOA, PFOS | 231,114 |
| Wilmington Water Department Wilmington Above: PFOA | 107,976 |
| Veolia Water Delaware, Inc Wilmington Above: PFOA | 100,495 |
| Bethany Bay Pump District Millville Above: PFOS | 52,684 |
| Newark Water Department Newark Above: PFOA, PFOS | 40,000 |
| Dewey Beach Water Department Dewey Beach Above: PFOA | 31,000 |
| Rehoboth Beach Water Department Rehoboth Beach Above: PFOA | 25,000 |
| Artesian Southern Sussex Regional Water System Bethany Beach Above: PFOS | 20,145 |
| Smyrna Water Department Smyrna Above: PFOA, PFOS | 11,813 |
| Lewes Board of Public Works Lewes Above: PFOS | 9,627 |
| Georgetown Water Department Georgetown Above: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, Hazard Index | 7,259 |
The same list, with PFOA and PFOS averages, is in the data download.
Which limits were exceeded
| PFAS | Federal limit | Systems above it |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA 554,657 people | 4 ppt | 8 |
| PFOS 372,642 people | 4 ppt | 7 |
| PFHxS | 10 ppt | 0 |
| PFNA 7,259 people | 10 ppt | 1 |
| GenX (HFPO-DA) | 10 ppt | 0 |
| Hazard Index 7,259 people | 1 | 1 |
"–" in the table above means not detected. A system can be above more than one limit. EPA proposed in May 2026 to rescind the PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and Hazard Index limits. That proposal is not final.
Delaware has its own PFAS rules. Forever Chemicals Mandatory Reporting Act (16 Del. C. ch. 30R) requires mailed notice above these levels or Hazard Index 1. Lower EPA MCLs would override. Details. This report compares results with the federal limits only.
Data and how to cite it
- Download every Delaware water system as CSV (PFOA and PFOS averages, systems above a limit, lead, violations).
- EPA's source file: UCMR 5 occurrence data.
Suggested citation:
Tap Water Results, "Delaware PFAS results from EPA's final UCMR 5 data" (published Nov 14, 2026, EPA data file of Oct 15, 2026). https://tapwaterresults.com/pfas/delaware/
You're welcome to quote and republish these figures with a link back. Questions from reporters: see contact.
Method
For each system we average each entry point's UCMR 5 results (non-detects count as zero, complete sets of samples only) and compare the highest entry-point average with the 2024 federal limit, using EPA's rounding. This is how EPA compares UCMR 5 results to the limits in its own data summary, and our national counts match EPA's published table within 2% (how we check). Results are monitoring data from 2023–2025, not compliance determinations, and treatment installed since then is not reflected. Full method.
Questions
How many Delaware water systems have PFAS above the limit?
11 of the 34 Delaware community water systems EPA tested in 2023–2025 (32%) had at least one entry-point average above a 2024 federal PFAS limit. They serve 637,113 people. Nationally the share is 11%.
Are these systems violating the law?
Not yet. Systems have until 2029 to meet the 2024 limits, and EPA has proposed moving the PFOA and PFOS deadline to 2031 and rescinding the other limits. EPA's UCMR 5 results are monitoring data and do not determine compliance.
Which systems were tested?
EPA's UCMR 5 tested every community water system serving more than 3,300 people and a representative sample of smaller ones. Systems that were not tested have no federal result, which is not the same as having no PFAS.
All Delaware water systems → · National results → · PFAS results for every state →
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.