Water System Report DE

Artesian Northern Sussex Regional

EPA ID: DE0020003 · 5,511 people served · 5 ZIP codes

With a five-year violation-free history, Artesian Northern Sussex Regional delivers safe water to 5,511 residents.

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

A · 87
Avg Safety Score
5,511
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
0
Contaminants Flagged
$419K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 3 (2023) to 2 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Artesian Northern Sussex Regional Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$79,698
Median Household Income
100,582
Service Area Population
8%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
31%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Artesian Northern Sussex Regional serves a community with a median household income of $79,698 and an estimated 100,582 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Artesian Northern Sussex Regional'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

27 yr
Avg Pipe Age
PEX or Copper
Pipe Material
40 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 40% 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. 28 detections recorded. 8 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

East Ncc District
5,538 people
0 violations
C 0 violations
A 0 violations
B 2 violations
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

Artesian Northern Sussex Regional (EPA ID: DE0020003) is a community water system in Delaware that serves approximately 5,511 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: A (87/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

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.

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 Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — 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 Artesian Northern Sussex Regional (DE0020003) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Artesian Northern Sussex Regional water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Artesian Northern Sussex Regional has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Artesian Northern Sussex Regional serve?

Artesian Northern Sussex Regional serves approximately 5,511 people across 5 ZIP codes in Delaware.

Where does Artesian Northern Sussex Regional 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
174
Detections
5
Latest sample
9/8/2025
Highest analyte
PFPeA: 8.3 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFPeA 8.3 ppt
PFOA 5.7 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxA 5.7 ppt
PFBS 4.3 ppt

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
17
Unknown Material
3,591
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 2022-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 5,511
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 →

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 Artesian Northern Sussex Regional safe to drink?
Artesian Northern Sussex Regional earns a A safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Artesian Northern Sussex Regional meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Artesian Northern Sussex Regional serve?
Artesian Northern Sussex Regional serves approximately 5,511 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Artesian Northern Sussex Regional's water source?
Artesian Northern Sussex Regional draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Artesian Northern Sussex Regional's service area?
The Artesian Northern Sussex Regional service area has a median household income of $79,698. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Artesian Northern Sussex Regional get its water?
Artesian Northern Sussex Regional'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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