Kent County, Delaware
20 ZIP codes · Avg score 90/100 · Grade A · Updated 2026-06-03
Covering 20 ZIP codes, Kent County earns a high grade for tap water — most systems report zero health-based violations, and the overall compliance rate comfortably exceeds federal benchmarks.
How Kent County Compares
How Kent County Compares
Kent County scores 9 points above the Delaware state average (81/100) and 22 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Kent County, Delaware
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.4 (asthma 12.5%, diabetes 14.3%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,655, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.303% avg pipe failure probability, 5% of ZIPs at high risk
42% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2023)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Kent County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 7 violations. Past 5 years: 8 total (8 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,655
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
69,014 housing units in Kent County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Kent County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Kent County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Kent County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Kent County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garrison Lake Pump District | 13,467 | 24 |
| 2 | Camden Pump District | 17,208 | 18 |
| 3 | Dover Water Department | 39,491 | 16 |
| 4 | Rehoboth Pump District (tui) | 81,417 | 15 |
| 5 | Bethany Bay Pump District | 51,000 | 15 |
44 total water systems serve Kent County.
All ZIP Codes in Kent County
20 ZIP codes tracked in Kent County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19902 | Dover Afb | 99 | A | 0 | — |
| 2 | 19955 | Kenton | 98 | A | 2 | $220K |
| 3 | 19979 | Viola | 97 | A | 4 | $266K |
| 4 | 19953 | Hartly | 95 | A | 1 | $244K |
| 5 | 19964 | Marydel | 95 | A | 0 | $334K |
| 6 | 19936 | Cheswold | 94 | A | 2 | $116K |
| 7 | 19961 | Little Creek | 94 | A | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 8 | 19962 | Magnolia | 94 | A | 2 | $357K |
| 9 | 19903 | Dover | 93 | A | 3 (2 health) | — |
| 10 | 19905 | Dover | 93 | A | 3 (2 health) | — |
| 11 | 19906 | Dover | 93 | A | 3 (2 health) | — |
| 12 | 19952 | Harrington | 93 | A | 4 | $274K |
| 13 | 19943 | Felton | 91 | A | 1 | $287K |
| 14 | 19938 | Clayton | 87 | A | 0 | $336K |
| 15 | 19977 | Smyrna | 87 | A | 7 | $312K |
| 16 | 19904 | Dover | 85 | A | 3 (2 health) | $281K |
| 17 | 19946 | Frederica | 85 | A | 0 | $263K |
| 18 | 19901 | Dover | 80 | B | 3 (2 health) | $258K |
| 19 | 19934 | Camden Wyoming | 73 | B | 0 | $311K |
| 20 | 19980 | Woodside | 66 | C | 0 | $285K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Kent County
Four sources — EPA, NSF, FEMA, CDC — drive the match.
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Kent County, Delaware
Overview
Kent County in Delaware covers 20 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of A (90/100).
14 of 20 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 11 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Delaware water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.