Wilmington, DE: 2 Violations - Home Safety 68/100
26 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Wilmington: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Compliance figures for Wilmington indicate average water quality in DE overall - some service areas have recorded health-based violations in recent monitoring cycles, while others operate cleanly, making system-level data the most actionable reference point for residents.
How Wilmington Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Wilmington, DE
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Wilmington's 10 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Wilmington Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0022 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,492 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.35 - above typical levels.
Wilmington's Water Providers
Water delivery in Wilmington, DE is handled by 3 utilities rather than a single system - drawn from 4 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 26 ZIP codes in Wilmington, Delaware (population ~219,376), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 439,645 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 10 of 26 ZIP codes.
9 of 10 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (90%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Wilmington: C (68/100)
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
Wilmington water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0022 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 10 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 25 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 1 ZIP code
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 10 | 9 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19807 | B | 2 | 0 | Wilmington Water Department |
| 19801 | C | 1 | 0 | Wilmington Water Department |
| 19802 | C | 1 | 0 | Wilmington Water Department |
| 19803 | C | 1 | 0 | Wilmington Water Department |
| 19804 | C | 1 | 0 | Artesian Water Company |
| 19805 | C | 1 | 0 | Wilmington Water Department |
| 19806 | C | 1 | 0 | Wilmington Water Department |
| 19809 | C | 1 | 0 | Wilmington Water Department |
| 19810 | C | 1 | 0 | Veolia Water Delaware, Inc. |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19808 | C | Artesian Water Company | 231,114 |
All ZIP Codes in Wilmington
- 19801 [C] - 1 violation
- 19802 [C] - 1 violation
- 19803 [C] - 1 violation
- 19804 [C] - 1 violation
- 19805 [C] - 1 violation
- 19806 [C] - 1 violation
- 19807 [B] - 2 violations
- 19808 [C]
- 19809 [C] - 1 violation
- 19810 [C] - 1 violation
- 19850
- 19880
- 19884
- 19885
- 19886
- 19887
- 19890
- 19891
- 19892
- 19893
- 19894
- 19895
- 19896
- 19897
- 19898
- 19899
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.
Wilmington 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 Wilmington's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Wilmington
For most homeowners in Wilmington, the estimated cost of water and safety remediation represents a proportionally modest share of what properties are worth - placing this area in the lower tier of the remediation share scale.
Remediation costs in Wilmington are relatively low compared to home values. The $738–$2,369 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 12% below the Delaware average.
Wilmington: 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.
Lead risk in Wilmington appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Wilmington: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Wilmington contains 905 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $40,402. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% 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>$1,492</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.
What You Can Do in Wilmington
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Wilmington's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Wilmington, DE