Bethany Beach, DE: 2 Violations - Home Safety 83/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Bethany Beach: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
In current tracking cycles, Bethany Beach records above-average water quality outcomes for DE; compliance history over recent years shows few departures from federal standards and no systemic failures across its water systems.
How Bethany Beach Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Bethany Beach Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0069 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 41% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.77 - above typical levels.
Bethany Beach's Water Providers
With 3 utilities splitting service in Bethany Beach, DE, water accountability is distributed across 5 systems on the federal record.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Bethany Beach, Delaware (population ~2,873), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 124,665 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Bethany Beach: B (83/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Bethany Beach water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0069 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19930 | B | 2 | 0 | Bethany Beach Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Bethany Beach
- 19930 [B] - 2 violations
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Bethany Beach Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Bethany Beach's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Bethany Beach Infrastructure Age
With 41% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
A median build year of 1980 in Bethany Beach is characteristic of a mixed-era city where plumbing risk depends heavily on the specific property. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered copper joints; those from before 1970 face the added possibility of lead service lines. The percentages above capture how much of the residential stock falls into each risk era.
Most homes in Bethany Beach were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Bethany Beach
What does remediation cost in financial context for Bethany Beach homeowners? Proportionally very little - the equity share here is low, and addressing documented issues is a manageable planning question rather than a material financial burden.
Remediation costs in Bethany Beach are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 126% above the Delaware average.
Bethany Beach: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Older interior plumbing shapes the local picture: 41% of Bethany Beach homes predate the federal solder ban, and aggregate sampling either approaches or crosses the action benchmark. That mix makes a single-home draw a standard pre-purchase or pre-occupancy step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Bethany Beach: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Bethany Beach contains 1,414 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,618. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$1,800</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Bethany Beach, DE