PFAS in Delaware drinking water

22 community water systems tested

40.9%

of tested systems detected PFOA or PFOS
(9/22)

PFAS — “forever chemicals” — are synthetic compounds that accumulate in the body and are linked to cancer, liver damage and immune effects. In 2024 the EPA set enforceable limits of 4 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS. These are the only nationwide PFAS measurements, from the EPA’s UCMR-5 program.

Water systems

PFAS value per system, 2023–2025. EPA limit — 4 ppt (0.004 µg/L) for PFOA and PFOS, set in 2024. Systems that detected PFOA or PFOS are highlighted and listed first. “Not detected” means the contaminant was measured but not found.

System	City	Population	PFAS (ug/L)
GEORGETOWN WATER DEPARTMENT	GEORGETOWN	7,259	0.0360 ug/L
NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT	NEWARK	40,000	0.0253 ug/L
VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC	NEW CASTLE	100,495	0.0244 ug/L
REHOBOTH BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT	REHOBOTH BEACH	25,000	0.0149 ug/L
DEWEY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT	DEWEY BEACH	31,000	0.0110 ug/L
WILMINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT	WILMINGTON	107,976	0.0099 ug/L
SMYRNA WATER DEPARTMENT	SMYRNA	11,813	0.0098 ug/L
LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS	LEWES	9,627	0.0095 ug/L
STAGE VILLAGE MHC	DELMAR	93	0.0085 ug/L
DOVER WATER DEPARTMENT	DOVER	39,491	Not detected
MIDDLETOWN WATER DEPARTMENT	MIDDLETOWN	17,700	Not detected
SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY	BETHANY BEACH	12,450	Not detected
BETHANY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT	BETHANY BEACH	12,000	Not detected
LONG NECK WATER COMPANY	MILLSBORO	11,000	Not detected
MILFORD WATER DEPARTMENT	MILFORD	9,800	Not detected
MILLSBORO WATER DEPARTMENT	MILLSBORO	8,568	Not detected
SEAFORD WATER DEPARTMENT	SEAFORD	6,699	Not detected
BRIDGEVILLE WATER DEPARTMENT	BRIDGEVILLE	6,000	Not detected
MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION	NEW CASTLE	5,549	Not detected
CAMDEN WYOMING SEWER AND WATER AUTHORITY	CAMDEN-WYOMING	5,000	Not detected
LAUREL WATER DEPARTMENT	LAUREL	3,984	Not detected
ELKTON WEST		3,500	Not detected