Tap Water Results

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.

34
systems tested (serving 939,170 people)
16
had at least one PFAS detected
11
had an average above a federal limit
637,113
people served by those systems

Highest PFOA or PFOS averages in Delaware

  1. 22.6 ppt
  2. Artesian Water Company Hockessin · PFOA
    22.3 ppt
  3. Veolia Water Delaware, Inc Wilmington · PFOA
    19.3 ppt
  4. Georgetown Water Department Georgetown · PFOA
    18 ppt
  5. Rehoboth Beach Water Department Rehoboth Beach · PFOA
    10.6 ppt
  6. 9.6 ppt
  7. Dewey Beach Water Department Dewey Beach · PFOA
    9.55 ppt
  8. Wilmington Water Department Wilmington · PFOA
    7.73 ppt
  9. 7.15 ppt
  10. Bethany Bay Pump District Millville · PFOS
    5.6 ppt
  11. 4.5 ppt
  12. Artesian Northern Sussex Regional Water System Lewes · PFOA
    2.85 ppt
  13. Rehoboth Pump District (TUI) Rehoboth Beach · PFOA
    2.2 ppt
The 13 Delaware systems with the highest PFOA or PFOS entry-point average (whichever is higher) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, in parts per trillion.
Chart data as a table
Systemppt
Newark Water Department · Newark · PFOA22.6
Artesian Water Company · Hockessin · PFOA22.3
Veolia Water Delaware, Inc · Wilmington · PFOA19.3
Georgetown Water Department · Georgetown · PFOA18
Rehoboth Beach Water Department · Rehoboth Beach · PFOA10.6
Smyrna Water Department · Smyrna · PFOA9.6
Dewey Beach Water Department · Dewey Beach · PFOA9.55
Wilmington Water Department · Wilmington · PFOA7.73
Lewes Board of Public Works · Lewes · PFOS7.15
Bethany Bay Pump District · Millville · PFOS5.6
Artesian Southern Sussex Regional Water System · Bethany Beach · PFOS4.5
Artesian Northern Sussex Regional Water System · Lewes · PFOA2.85
Rehoboth Pump District (TUI) · Rehoboth Beach · PFOA2.2

Largest systems above a limit

#SystemPeople servedAbove the limit forPFOA avgPFOS avg
1Artesian Water Company
Hockessin
Above: PFOA, PFOS
231,114PFOA, PFOS22.3 ppt5.55 ppt
2Wilmington Water Department
Wilmington
Above: PFOA
107,976PFOA7.73 ppt–
3Veolia Water Delaware, Inc
Wilmington
Above: PFOA
100,495PFOA19.3 ppt–
4Bethany Bay Pump District
Millville
Above: PFOS
52,684PFOS–5.6 ppt
5Newark Water Department
Newark
Above: PFOA, PFOS
40,000PFOA, PFOS22.6 ppt7.4 ppt
6Dewey Beach Water Department
Dewey Beach
Above: PFOA
31,000PFOA9.55 ppt–
7Rehoboth Beach Water Department
Rehoboth Beach
Above: PFOA
25,000PFOA10.6 ppt3.1 ppt
8Artesian Southern Sussex Regional Water System
Bethany Beach
Above: PFOS
20,145PFOS–4.5 ppt
9Smyrna Water Department
Smyrna
Above: PFOA, PFOS
11,813PFOA, PFOS9.6 ppt6.7 ppt
10Lewes Board of Public Works
Lewes
Above: PFOS
9,627PFOS3.05 ppt7.15 ppt

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
SystemPeople servedAbove the limit for
Artesian Water Company
Hockessin
Above: PFOA, PFOS
231,114PFOA, PFOS
Wilmington Water Department
Wilmington
Above: PFOA
107,976PFOA
Veolia Water Delaware, Inc
Wilmington
Above: PFOA
100,495PFOA
Bethany Bay Pump District
Millville
Above: PFOS
52,684PFOS
Newark Water Department
Newark
Above: PFOA, PFOS
40,000PFOA, PFOS
Dewey Beach Water Department
Dewey Beach
Above: PFOA
31,000PFOA
Rehoboth Beach Water Department
Rehoboth Beach
Above: PFOA
25,000PFOA
Artesian Southern Sussex Regional Water System
Bethany Beach
Above: PFOS
20,145PFOS
Smyrna Water Department
Smyrna
Above: PFOA, PFOS
11,813PFOA, PFOS
Lewes Board of Public Works
Lewes
Above: PFOS
9,627PFOS
Georgetown Water Department
Georgetown
Above: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, Hazard Index
7,259PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, Hazard Index

The same list, with PFOA and PFOS averages, is in the data download.

Which limits were exceeded

PFASFederal limitSystems above itPeople served
PFOA
554,657 people
4 ppt8554,657
PFOS
372,642 people
4 ppt7372,642
PFHxS10 ppt00
PFNA
7,259 people
10 ppt17,259
GenX (HFPO-DA)10 ppt00
Hazard Index
7,259 people
117,259

"–" 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

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.