Dover Water Department
EPA ID: DE0000571 · 39,491 people served · 7 ZIP codes
Federal compliance records for Dover Water Department list 1 open violation that have not yet been resolved — the utility serves approximately 39,491 people, and each outstanding finding remains logged and active in the EPA enforcement database.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Dover Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Dover Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $69,176 and an estimated 95,467 residents across its service area. Approximately 44% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Dover Water Department's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.
About 0% of homes in Kent County, Delaware rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Dover Water Department compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 1032 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Delaware
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Dover Water Department (EPA ID: DE0000571) is a community water system in Delaware that serves approximately 39,491 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 7 ZIP codes across 3 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (83/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2, 2023 | Contaminant 1032 | Health-based | Unresolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 2 | Yes |
| Contaminant 1032 | Other Violation | 1 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19953 | 0.0011 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 19901 | 0.00071 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 19904 | 0.00071 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 4 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 3 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 19901 — Dover
- 19903 — Dover
- 19904 — Dover
- 19905 — Dover
- 19906 — Dover
- 19934 — Camden Wyoming
- 19953 — Hartly
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Dover Water Department (DE0000571) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dover Water Department water safe to drink?
Dover Water Department has recorded 2 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Dover Water Department serve?
Dover Water Department serves approximately 39,491 people across 7 ZIP codes in Delaware.
Where does Dover Water Department get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: DOVER WATER DEPARTMENT Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- 1 site exceeded Lead action level (90th still below AL)
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Dover Water Department (EPA ID: DE0000571) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.