Water System Report DE

Dewey Beach Water Department

EPA ID: DE0000825 · 31,000 people served · 4 ZIP codes

In the most recent five-year monitoring window, Dewey Beach Water Department posted zero EPA violations serving 31,000 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

31,000
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$525K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Dewey Beach Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$97,052
Median Household Income
35,583
Service Area Population
8%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
30%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Dewey Beach Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $97,052 and an estimated 35,583 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Dewey Beach 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.

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

About 1% of homes in Sussex County, Delaware rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

29 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
39 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 43% 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. 10 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Delaware

Dover Water Department
39,491 people
B 3 violations
Newark Water Department
40,000 people
B 5 violations
B 0 violations
B 0 violations
Camden Pump District
17,208 people
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:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,800 (one-time) vs. $330 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

Dewey Beach Water Department (EPA ID: DE0000825) is a community water system in Delaware that serves approximately 31,000 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 3 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Dewey Beach Water Department (DE0000825) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dewey Beach Water Department water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Dewey Beach Water Department has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Dewey Beach Water Department serve?

Dewey Beach Water Department serves approximately 31,000 people across 4 ZIP codes in Delaware.

Where does Dewey Beach Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
58
Detections
9
Latest sample
12/9/2024
Highest analyte
PFOA: 11 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 11 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFBS 5 ppt
PFHxA 4.2 ppt
PFPeA 3.8 ppt
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) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
2,771
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 31,000
Reported to Delaware

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Dewey Beach Water Department meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Dewey Beach Water Department serve?
Dewey Beach Water Department serves approximately 31,000 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Dewey Beach Water Department's water source?
Dewey Beach Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Dewey Beach Water Department's service area?
The Dewey Beach Water Department service area has a median household income of $97,052. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Dewey Beach Water Department get its water?
Dewey Beach 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. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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