PFAS above EPA’s limits in Delaware.
The short answer
11 utilities serving 637,113 people, as they report it, had a location averaging above a limit, most often PFOA (8) and PFOS (7). The largest is Artesian Water Company, whose highest PFOA average was 22 ppt, 5.6 times the limit. The furthest above is Newark Water Department, at 5.7 times the PFOA limit.
These are EPA’s survey results, not violations: the limits take effect April 26, 2029, and compliance will rest on each utility’s own monitoring. EPA has proposed changes to the rule; as of Oct. 13, 2026, none is final.
Utilities above a limit
Largest first. Each one’s highest location average is for the limit it is furthest above, with the single highest sample of the same PFAS; its report has every result.
| Utility | Based in | Serves | Above | Highest location average | Highest single sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artesian Water Company | Bear | 231,114 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 22 ppt5.6 times the limit | 23 ppt |
| Wilmington Water Department | Wilmington | 107,976 | PFOA | PFOA 7.7 ppt1.9 times the limit | 9.9 ppt |
| Veolia Water Delaware, Inc | New Castle | 100,495 | PFOA | PFOA 19 ppt4.8 times the limit | 24 ppt |
| Bethany Bay Pump District | Millville | 52,684 | PFOS | PFOS 5.6 ppt1.4 times the limit | 6.1 ppt |
| Newark Water Department | Newark | 40,000 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 23 ppt5.7 times the limit | 25 ppt |
| Dewey Beach Water Department | Dewey Beach | 31,000 | PFOA | PFOA 9.6 ppt2.4 times the limit | 11 ppt |
| Rehoboth Beach Water Department | Rehoboth Beach | 25,000 | PFOA | PFOA 11 ppt2.6 times the limit | 15 ppt |
| Artesian Southern Sussex Regional | Bethany Beach | 20,145 | PFOS | PFOS 4.5 ppt1.1 times the limit | 4.7 ppt |
| Smyrna Water Department | Smyrna | 11,813 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 9.6 ppt2.4 times the limit | 9.8 ppt |
| Lewes Board of Public Works | Lewes | 9,627 | PFOS | PFOS 7.2 ppt1.8 times the limit | 9.5 ppt |
| Georgetown Water Department | Georgetown | 7,259 | PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, Hazard Index | PFOA 18 ppt4.5 times the limit | 36 ppt |
2 more utilities in Delaware had a single sample above a limit but no location average above, so they are not listed; each report shows the sample.
Results: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, file of Oct. 15, 2026, samples from Jan. 3, 2023 to June 17, 2026, averaged by sampling location as EPA’s final UCMR 5 data summary does. Every state, and the full data as a CSV; how this list is made. People served is what each utility reports.
Where to go next
- Artesian Water Company’s reportEvery PFAS result with its dates, and the certification claim that handles each.Open the report
- Every stateThe national list, the largest utilities above a limit, and the data to download.PFAS above EPA’s limits
- Filters certified for PFASRanked by certification and what they cost over five years.Best water filters for PFAS