Monitoring Violations DE

Greater Ellendale Water District

EPA ID: DE0020112 · 350 people served · 4 ZIP codes

Even though Greater Ellendale Water District accumulated 2 violations over five years, all have been formally resolved — the provider currently meets EPA standards for 350 people.

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

A · 94
Avg Safety Score
350
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00084 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
1
Contaminants Flagged
$352K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 3 (2023) to 1 (2025). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Greater Ellendale Water District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$75,088
Median Household Income
46,171
Service Area Population
8%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
32%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Greater Ellendale Water District serves a community with a median household income of $75,088 and an estimated 46,171 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Greater Ellendale Water District'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
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 43% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Greater Ellendale Water District compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 15 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

Long Neck Village
345 people
0 violations
Cedar Landing
357 people
0 violations
0 violations
0 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 $450
Total Estimated Cost $1,650

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,650 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

Greater Ellendale Water District (EPA ID: DE0020112) is a community water system in Delaware that serves approximately 350 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: A (94/100)

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

Violation History

2 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 10, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 2 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
19941 0.00084 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 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 Greater Ellendale Water District (DE0020112) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Greater Ellendale Water District water safe to drink?

Greater Ellendale Water District has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Greater Ellendale Water District serve?

Greater Ellendale Water District serves approximately 350 people across 4 ZIP codes in Delaware.

Where does Greater Ellendale Water District get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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
113
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 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 350
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

Is water from Greater Ellendale Water District safe to drink?
Greater Ellendale Water District earns a A safety grade with 2 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Greater Ellendale Water District's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Greater Ellendale Water District serve?
Greater Ellendale Water District serves approximately 350 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Greater Ellendale Water District's water source?
Greater Ellendale Water District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Greater Ellendale Water District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00084 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Greater Ellendale Water District's service area?
The Greater Ellendale Water District service area has a median household income of $75,088. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Greater Ellendale Water District get its water?
Greater Ellendale Water District'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.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Greater Ellendale Water District (EPA ID: DE0020112) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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