Water System Report DE

Lewes Board of Public Works

EPA ID: DE0000602 ยท 9,627 people served ยท 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Lewes Board of Public Works (DE0000602): a lead 90th-percentile reading above the EPA action level. Unlike many utilities its size, Lewes Board of Public Works carries a violation-free five-year record - no EPA notices, no MCL exceedances, serving 9,627 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 83
Avg Safety Score
9,627
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.023 mg/L
Max Lead Level - Exceeds Limit
Zone 3
Radon Risk ยท Low
0
Contaminants Flagged
$489K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Lewes Board of Public Works Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$91,445
Median Household Income
59,918
Service Area Population
8%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
30%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Lewes Board of Public Works serves a community with a median household income of $91,445 and an estimated 59,918 residents across its service area.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Lewes Board of Public Works'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

23 yr
Avg Pipe Age
PEX or Copper
Pipe Material
44 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 34% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 17 detections recorded. 5 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.05 ppt, PFOS: 0.05 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Delaware

Church Creek (awc)
9,654 people
A 0 violations
A 0 violations
1 violation
0 violations
Dover Air Force Base
11,000 people
A 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $600
Total Estimated Cost $1,800

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Lead Exposure - Child Lifetime Cost $10,000

Per affected child (EPA est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,945
10 years
$5,890
20 years
$11,780

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,800 (one-time) vs. $5,890 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Lewes Board of Public Works (EPA ID: DE0000602) is a community water system in Delaware that serves approximately 9,627 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (83/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 3 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.023 mg/L Yes N/A
Lead exceeds EPA action level in at least one sampling location. Consider using a certified NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 filter rated for lead removal.

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by DE or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Lewes Board of Public Works (DE0000602) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lewes Board of Public Works water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Lewes Board of Public Works in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Lewes Board of Public Works serve?

Lewes Board of Public Works serves approximately 9,627 people across 3 ZIP codes in Delaware.

Where does Lewes Board of Public Works get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
58
Detections
4
Latest sample
8/7/2024
Highest analyte
PFOS: 9.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 9.5 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFOA 6.1 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxS 3.5 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

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

Is water from Lewes Board of Public Works safe to drink?
Lewes Board of Public Works earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Lewes Board of Public Works meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Lewes Board of Public Works serve?
Lewes Board of Public Works serves approximately 9,627 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Lewes Board of Public Works's water source?
Lewes Board of Public Works draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Lewes Board of Public Works's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.023 mg/L. This exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. A lead-certified filter is recommended, especially for homes with young children.
What is the demographic profile of Lewes Board of Public Works's service area?
The Lewes Board of Public Works service area has a median household income of $91,445. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Lewes Board of Public Works get its water?
Lewes Board of Public Works'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. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Lewes Board of Public Works Water Quality Report, DE. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/de0000602/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-de0000602,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Lewes Board of Public Works Water Quality Report, DE}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/de0000602/}
}
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