Delaware Home Safety Profiles by ZIP
97 ZIP codes · 77 water systems · IPC plumbing code · Updated
Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NWS, State plumbing boards, Rewiring America
ZipCheckup tracks drinking-water and home-safety data for 97 ZIP codes across Delaware, covering 77 public water systems that serve about 779,393 people. 25 ZIP codes carry at least one EPA violation on record.
Residents across Delaware generally have access to tap water that meets federal safety benchmarks.
Score Distribution
How Delaware's 97 ZIP codes are distributed across safety grades.
Home Safety Scores by State
Model 4.0.0 inputs: EPA SDWIS, UCMR5 PFAS, EPA radon zones, annual county AQI •
Top 10 Safest ZIP Codes in Delaware
Highest Home Safety Scores in the state.
| # | ZIP Code | City | County | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19901 | Dover | Kent | 100 | A |
| 2 | 19902 | Dover Afb | Kent | 100 | A |
| 3 | 19904 | Dover | Kent | 100 | A |
| 4 | 19934 | Camden Wyoming | Kent | 100 | A |
| 5 | 19936 | Cheswold | Kent | 100 | A |
| 6 | 19943 | Felton | Kent | 100 | A |
| 7 | 19946 | Frederica | Kent | 100 | A |
| 8 | 19962 | Magnolia | Kent | 100 | A |
| 9 | 19963 | Milford | Sussex | 100 | A |
| 10 | 19956 | Laurel | Sussex | 97 | A |
10 Lowest-Scoring ZIP Codes in Delaware
| # | ZIP Code | City | County | Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19810 | Wilmington | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
| 2 | 19809 | Wilmington | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
| 3 | 19806 | Wilmington | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
| 4 | 19805 | Wilmington | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
| 5 | 19804 | Wilmington | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
| 6 | 19803 | Wilmington | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
| 7 | 19802 | Wilmington | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
| 8 | 19801 | Wilmington | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
| 9 | 19732 | Rockland | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
| 10 | 19720 | New Castle | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
County Rankings
Water quality breakdown by county. 3 counties with data in Delaware.
County-level aggregation of measured ZIP Home Safety Scores • EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 PFAS, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData
| County | Avg Score | Grade | ZIPs | Best ZIP | Worst ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10001 | 98 | A | 21 | 19901 (100) | 19977 (83) |
| 10003 | 67 | C | 52 | 19709 (83) | 19810 (66) |
| 10005 | 85 | A | 24 | 19963 (100) | 19947 (81) |
Most Common Contaminants in Delaware
| Contaminant / Rule | Category | ZIPs Affected | Violations | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 14 | 14 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 15 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 7 | 8 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 3 | 9 | Yes |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 2 | 2 | No |
Overview
We track multi-source home safety signals for 97 ZIP records across Delaware. Home Safety Score model 4.0.0 is published for 45 scored records; missing required evidence suppresses the score.
The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 60 ZIP records, covering 77 community water systems that serve approximately 779,393 people.
25 of 60 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (42%) have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Plumbing Regulations
Delaware follows the International Plumbing Code (2021 edition).
- Plumbing code: IPC (2021)
- Homeowner DIY: Licensed plumber required
- Water heater permit: Required
- Annual backflow test: Required
Energy & Water Rebates
Across 96 tracked ZIP codes in Delaware, residents have access to an average of 2 water-related rebate programs - including incentives for heat pump water heaters, efficient fixtures, and plumbing upgrades.
Check rebates for your ZIP code →
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | City | Home Safety Grade | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19973 | Seaford | A | 8 | 3 | Seaford Water Department |
| 19956 | Laurel | A | 6 | 3 | Laurel Water Department |
| 19947 | Georgetown | B | 4 | 3 | Georgetown Water Department |
| 19944 | Fenwick Island | B | 3 | 0 | Artesian Southern Sussex Regional |
| 19807 | Wilmington | B | 2 | 0 | Wilmington Water Department |
| 19930 | Bethany Beach | B | 2 | 0 | Bethany Beach Water Department |
| 19939 | Dagsboro | B | 2 | 0 | Bethany Bay Pump District |
| 19950 | Greenwood | — | 2 | 1 | Greenwood Water Department |
| 19952 | Harrington | — | 2 | 0 | Harrington Water Department |
| 19970 | Ocean View | B | 2 | 0 | Bethany Bay Pump District |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | City | Home Safety Grade | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19701 | Bear | C | Artesian Water Company | 231,114 |
| 19702 | Newark | C | Artesian Water Company | 231,114 |
| 19703 | Claymont | C | Veolia Water Delaware, Inc. | 100,495 |
| 19706 | Delaware City | — | Delaware City Water Department (awc) | 2,610 |
| 19707 | Hockessin | C | Artesian Water Company | 231,114 |
| 19709 | Middletown | B | Artesian Water Company | 231,114 |
| 19711 | Newark | C | Newark Water Department | 40,000 |
| 19713 | Newark | C | Veolia Water Delaware, Inc. | 100,495 |
| 19716 | Newark | — | Newark Water Department | 40,000 |
| 19717 | Newark | — | Newark Water Department | 40,000 |
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Delaware: B (81/100) across 45 scored of 97 tracked ZIP records.
Model 4.0.0 uses the canonical components water-compliance, pfas-mcl-screen, radon-zone, annual-aqi across 3 required domains. The sections below provide additional context and do not change that score. Missing required evidence suppresses the score, and a favorable result is not a property-level safety certification.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0034 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 3 of 60 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
- High risk (Zone 1): 0 ZIP codes (0%)
- Moderate risk (Zone 2): 52 ZIP codes
- Low risk (Zone 3): 45 ZIP codes
ZIP Code Reports for Delaware
Largest Communities
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Safety Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19720 | New Castle | 447,744 | C | 1 |
| 19801 | Wilmington | 439,585 | C | 1 |
| 19804 | Wilmington | 439,585 | C | 1 |
| 19805 | Wilmington | 439,585 | C | 1 |
| 19702 | Newark | 371,609 | C | 0 |
| 19711 | Newark | 371,609 | C | 0 |
| 19713 | Newark | 371,609 | C | 0 |
| 19807 | Wilmington | 339,150 | B | 2 |
| 19701 | Bear | 331,609 | C | 0 |
| 19709 | Middletown | 261,768 | B | 0 |
| 19731 | Port Penn | 236,652 | — | 0 |
| 19730 | Odessa | 234,204 | — | 0 |
| 19734 | Townsend | 234,204 | — | 0 |
| 19707 | Hockessin | 231,114 | C | 0 |
| 19736 | Yorklyn | 231,114 | — | 0 |
| 19808 | Wilmington | 231,114 | C | 0 |
| 19802 | Wilmington | 208,471 | C | 1 |
| 19803 | Wilmington | 208,471 | C | 1 |
| 19809 | Wilmington | 208,471 | C | 1 |
| 19810 | Wilmington | 208,471 | C | 1 |
Lowest Published Home Safety Scores
| ZIP Code | City | Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19720 | New Castle | 66 | C | 1 |
| 19732 | Rockland | 66 | C | 1 |
| 19801 | Wilmington | 66 | C | 1 |
| 19802 | Wilmington | 66 | C | 1 |
| 19803 | Wilmington | 66 | C | 1 |
Highest Published Home Safety Scores
| ZIP Code | City | Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19901 | Dover | 100 | A | 0 |
| 19902 | Dover Afb | 100 | A | 0 |
| 19904 | Dover | 100 | A | 0 |
| 19934 | Camden Wyoming | 100 | A | 0 |
| 19936 | Cheswold | 100 | A | 0 |
All 97 ZIP Codes in Delaware
- 19701 (Bear) [C]
- 19930 (Bethany Beach) [B] - 2 violations
- 19931 (Bethel)
- 19933 (Bridgeville) - 1 violation
- 19934 (Camden Wyoming) [A]
- 19936 (Cheswold) [A]
- 19703 (Claymont) [C]
- 19938 (Clayton)
- 19939 (Dagsboro) [B] - 2 violations
- 19706 (Delaware City)
- 19940 (Delmar) [B]
- 19901 (Dover) [A]
- 19903 (Dover)
- 19904 (Dover) [A]
- 19905 (Dover)
- 19906 (Dover)
- 19902 (Dover Afb) [A]
- 19941 (Ellendale)
- 19943 (Felton) [A] - 1 violation
- 19944 (Fenwick Island) [B] - 3 violations
- 19945 (Frankford) [B] - 1 violation
- 19946 (Frederica) [A]
- 19947 (Georgetown) [B] - 4 violations ⚠
- 19950 (Greenwood) - 2 violations ⚠
- 19951 (Harbeson) [B]
- 19952 (Harrington) - 2 violations
- 19953 (Hartly)
- 19707 (Hockessin) [C]
- 19954 (Houston) - 1 violation
- 19955 (Kenton)
- 19708 (Kirkwood)
- 19956 (Laurel) [A] - 6 violations ⚠
- 19958 (Lewes) [B]
- 19960 (Lincoln)
- 19961 (Little Creek)
- 19962 (Magnolia) [A]
- 19964 (Marydel)
- 19709 (Middletown) [B]
- 19963 (Milford) [A]
- 19966 (Millsboro) [B] - 1 violation
- 19967 (Millville) [B]
- 19968 (Milton) [B]
- 19710 (Montchanin)
- 19969 (Nassau)
- 19720 (New Castle) [C] - 1 violation
- 19721 (New Castle)
- 19702 (Newark) [C]
- 19711 (Newark) [C]
- 19712 (Newark)
- 19713 (Newark) [C]
- 19714 (Newark)
- 19715 (Newark)
- 19716 (Newark)
- 19717 (Newark)
- 19718 (Newark)
- 19725 (Newark)
- 19726 (Newark)
- 19970 (Ocean View) [B] - 2 violations
- 19730 (Odessa)
- 19731 (Port Penn)
- 19971 (Rehoboth Bch) [B]
- 19732 (Rockland) [C] - 1 violation
- 19733 (Saint Georges)
- 19973 (Seaford) [A] - 8 violations ⚠
- 19975 (Selbyville) [B]
- 19977 (Smyrna) [B]
- 19734 (Townsend)
- 19979 (Viola)
- 19801 (Wilmington) [C] - 1 violation
- 19802 (Wilmington) [C] - 1 violation
- 19803 (Wilmington) [C] - 1 violation
- 19804 (Wilmington) [C] - 1 violation
- 19805 (Wilmington) [C] - 1 violation
- 19806 (Wilmington) [C] - 1 violation
- 19807 (Wilmington) [B] - 2 violations
- 19808 (Wilmington) [C]
- 19809 (Wilmington) [C] - 1 violation
- 19810 (Wilmington) [C] - 1 violation
- 19850 (Wilmington)
- 19880 (Wilmington)
- 19884 (Wilmington)
- 19885 (Wilmington)
- 19886 (Wilmington)
- 19887 (Wilmington)
- 19890 (Wilmington)
- 19891 (Wilmington)
- 19892 (Wilmington)
- 19893 (Wilmington)
- 19894 (Wilmington)
- 19895 (Wilmington)
- 19896 (Wilmington)
- 19897 (Wilmington)
- 19898 (Wilmington)
- 19899 (Wilmington)
- 19735 (Winterthur)
- 19980 (Woodside)
- 19736 (Yorklyn)
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- PFAS screening: EPA UCMR 5
- Radon zones: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Air quality: EPA AirData annual AQI
- Regulations: State plumbing boards, ICC, IAPMO
- Rebates: Rewiring America
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Largest water systems in Delaware
The 12 biggest community water systems serving Delaware, of 77 total.
- C
- C
- C
- B
- B
- C
Show all 12 water systems
- A
- B
- B
- B
- B
- A
Systems with the most violations in Delaware
12 systems in Delaware with the most recorded EPA violations.
- A
- B
- A
- C
- B
- A
- B
- B
- B
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the water safe to drink in Delaware?
Delaware has 77 community water systems serving 779,393 people across 97 ZIP codes. There are 21 recorded violations, including 4 health-based. 25 of 97 ZIP codes have at least one violation.
What plumbing code does Delaware follow?
Delaware follows the IPC plumbing code. A licensed plumber is generally required for plumbing work.
Is lead a concern in Delaware's drinking water?
3 ZIP codes in Delaware have lead levels exceeding the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.