CITY REPORT DE

Fenwick Island, DE: 3 Violations - Home Safety 82/100

1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Fenwick Island: B.

This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.

How does Fenwick Island tap water hold up under EPA scrutiny? Above average for DE - documented violations are uncommon and the safety grade reflects a clean overall record.

How Fenwick Island Compares

Fenwick Island82/100
Delaware avg81/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
2
Water Systems
1
ZIPs with Violations
B · 82
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
Radon Risk (Low)
$1.2M
Median Home Value
$1,800
Est. Remediation (0.2% of home value)

Key Facts for Fenwick Island Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 3 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.0022 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 50% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 14.77 - above typical levels.

Fenwick Island's Water Providers

Multiple utilities divide Fenwick Island, DE's water service - 2 leading providers among 2 on the federal register.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Fenwick Island, Delaware (population ~652), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 18,815 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 Fenwick Island: B (82/100)

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

Fenwick Island water systems draw from: Groundwater.

Lead & Copper

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0022 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
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
19944 B 3 0 Artesian Southern Sussex Regional

All ZIP Codes in Fenwick Island

  • 19944 [B] - 3 violations

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Fenwick Island Community Health Snapshot

10.5%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
14.2%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
13.8%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 10.5% ↑
Diabetes 14.2% ↑
Mental Health 13.8% ↓

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

What's in Fenwick Island's Water?

Surface Water Treatment Rule 4 violations
Treatment Technique
Pathogens may not be adequately removed
Stage 1 DBP Rule 2 violations
Treatment Technique
Disinfection byproduct exposure risk

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

Fenwick Island Infrastructure Age

1984
Median Build Year
50%
Built Before 1986
5%
Built Before 1970
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 50% 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

Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in Fenwick Island - it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1984 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.

1984
Median Year Built
50%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
5%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (5%) 1970–1986 (45%) Post-1986 (50%)

Over half of homes in Fenwick Island were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

How Remediation Costs Compare in Fenwick Island

At current valuations, Fenwick Island sits in the low remediation-share tier - the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.

Median Home Value
$1.2M
Est. Remediation
$1,800
Remediation as % of home value 0.2%

Remediation costs in Fenwick Island 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 228% above the Delaware average.

Fenwick Island: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

50%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0022
mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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.

Confirming what arrives at a specific faucet is something utility-side averages cannot do. With 50% of Fenwick Island stock built before the lead-solder ban and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory mark, a tap-level kit fits the standard diligence picture.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Fenwick Island: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

393
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$10,938
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Fenwick Island contains 393 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,938. 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 Fenwick Island, DE

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Fenwick Island, DE?
Fenwick Island has an average Home Safety Score of 82/100 (Grade B) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. 3 EPA violations have been recorded. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water violations does Fenwick Island have?
Fenwick Island water systems have a total of 3 EPA violations. Violations are tracked across 1 ZIP code.
Does Fenwick Island water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Fenwick Island is 0.0022 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Fenwick Island compare to Delaware average?
Fenwick Island has an average Home Safety Score of 82/100, which is above the Delaware state average of 81/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Fenwick Island?
Fenwick Island is served by 2 public water systems across 1 ZIP code, serving approximately 652 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Fenwick Island?
Estimated remediation costs in Fenwick Island average $1,800 per household, ranging from $1,200 to $2,600. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Fenwick Island, DE: 3 Violations - Home Safety 82/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/de/fenwick-island/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-de-fenwick-island,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Fenwick Island, DE: 3 Violations - Home Safety 82/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/de/fenwick-island/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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