Industrial context
Delaware's PFAS exposure traces to legacy fluorochemical manufacturing at the DuPont Chambers Works site on the Delaware River and AFFF release at New Castle Air National Guard Base.
By State · DE
PFAS in Delaware water
Based on EPA UCMR 5 testing of 25 public water systems with PFAS detected in Delaware.
See Delaware on the national heatmap Systems tested in state
25 With PFAS detected
25 Above EPA limits
14 (56%) State totals reflect systems with at least one PFAS detection in UCMR 5 (the canonical EPA dataset). The 6,151 national total includes ~123 additional systems in US territories and on tribal lands not browsable as state pages.
Most contaminated in Delaware
14 Delaware water systems tested above EPA PFAS limits. The most severe is GEORGETOWN WATER DEPARTMENT, where PFOA measured 36.0 ppt — 9.0× the federal limit.
State context
How PFAS shows up in Delaware
Regulatory stance
Delaware follows the federal EPA framework. The state has not promulgated PFAS MCLs more stringent than the federal rule.
Notable sites
The Chambers Works site near the Delaware Memorial Bridge has been the focus of long-running federal and state investigations into PFAS releases dating to the 1960s.
Editorial summary compiled from public DoD, EPA, and state agency disclosures. Not a comprehensive site inventory — for the authoritative list of PFAS investigation locations in Delaware, consult your state environmental agency.
Most Commonly Detected PFAS in Delaware
Systems with detections · EPA UCMR 5 (2023–2025)
PFPeA 14 systems
PFHxA 13 systems
PFOA 12 systems
PFBS 11 systems
PFOS 9 systems
lithium 8 systems
Check your Delaware ZIP code
Get specific results for your neighborhood's water utility.
Browse Delaware by city
3 citiesCity overviews aggregate every utility and ZIP code in the area. Don't see your city? Use the ZIP lookup above — every Delaware ZIP has a result.
Water Systems in Delaware (25)
| Water System ↕ | PWSID | PFAS Detected ↕ | Above MCL ↕ | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGETOWN WATER DEPARTMENT Groundwater | DE0000592 | 11 | 3 | High Risk |
| SUEZ WATER DELAWARE Surface Water | DE0000564 | 9 | 2 | High Risk |
| ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY Groundwater | DE0000552 | 8 | 2 | High Risk |
| NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT, DE Groundwater | DE0000630 | 8 | 2 | High Risk |
| REHOBOTH BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT Groundwater | DE0000723 | 7 | 2 | High Risk |
| STAGE VILLAGE MHC Groundwater | DE0000569 | 5 | 2 | High Risk |
| SMYRNA WATER DEPARTMENT Groundwater | DE0000657 | 5 | 2 | High Risk |
| LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Groundwater | DE0000602 | 3 | 2 | High Risk |
| WILMINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT Surface Water | DE0000663 | 6 | 1 | High Risk |
| DEWEY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT Groundwater | DE0000825 | 5 | 1 | High Risk |
| REHOBOTH PUMP DISTRICT Groundwater | DE0000991 | 4 | 1 | High Risk |
| ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL Groundwater | DE0020003 | 4 | 1 | High Risk |
| BETHANY BAY PUMP DISTRICT Groundwater | DE0000221 | 1 | 1 | High Risk |
| SOUTH BETHANY Groundwater | DE00A0323 | 1 | 1 | High Risk |
| BAYSIDE PUMP DISTRICT Groundwater | DE00A0837 | 3 | 0 | Low Level |
| SEAFORD WATER DEPARTMENT Groundwater | DE0000246 | 2 | 0 | Low Level |
| MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION Groundwater | DE0000634 | 2 | 0 | Low Level |
| GARRISON LAKE PUMP DISTRICT Groundwater | DE0000004 | 1 | 0 | Low Level |
| CAMDEN PUMP DISTRICT Groundwater | DE0000124 | 1 | 0 | Low Level |
| BRIDGEVILLE WATER DEPARTMENT Groundwater | DE0000559 | 1 | 0 | Low Level |
| CAMDEN WYOMING SEWER AND WATER AUTHORITY Groundwater | DE0000563 | 1 | 0 | Low Level |
| DOVER WATER DEPARTMENT Groundwater | DE0000571 | 1 | 0 | Low Level |
| DOVER AIR FORCE BASE Groundwater | DE0000579 | 1 | 0 | Low Level |
| MILFORD WATER DEPARTMENT Groundwater | DE0000616 | 1 | 0 | Low Level |
| CHURCH CREEK Groundwater | DE00A0428 | 1 | 0 | Low Level |
No water systems match your search. Try a different name or PWSID.
Click any row to see ZIP-level details. Click PWSID to see the full utility page.
Test your water
How to get your Delaware water tested for PFAS
EPA UCMR 5 tested 25 public water systems in Delaware — but at the utility entry point, not your tap. Aging pipes and indoor plumbing can change what reaches your home, and private wells aren't covered by UCMR 5 at all. To find out what's actually in your water, test it with a certified lab.
- 01 →
How PFAS water testing works
EPA Method 537.1 in plain English — what a certified lab actually measures
- 02 →
Order a certified mail-in test kit
PFAS mail-in kits from about $85 (Cyclopure, Tap Score)
- 03 →
On a private well in Delaware?
Wells aren't covered by EPA testing — your own testing guide
Delaware testing resources
- PFAS limits
- Delaware follows the federal EPA PFAS limits and has not enacted its own enforceable MCLs.
- Well testing
- Delaware private-well testing guidance →
Compiled from official Delaware state sources. Programs and eligibility change — confirm current details with the agency.