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Delaware Water Quality
79
Utilities in database
1.0M
Residents served
24%
On private wells
2
Key contaminants tracked
Drinking Water in Delaware
Delaware has 79 community water systems serving approximately 1.0 million residents. Primary water sources include groundwater. The most commonly reported contaminants include disinfection byproducts, nitrates. 24% of Delaware residents rely on private wells. DNREC holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Utilities in Delaware
76–79 of 79Key Contaminant Concerns in Delaware
Nitrates
Nitrate (NO₃⁻) is a nitrogen-containing compound that forms naturally through the decomposition of organic matter. At elevated concentrations — almost always from human activity — nitrate interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen. The United States produces over 23 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually, making agricultural runoff the dominant source of nitrate contamination.
DBPs
When utilities add chlorine to water to kill pathogens, it reacts with dissolved organic matter — leaves, algae, soil — to produce disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Over 600 DBPs have been identified. The EPA regulates two groups: total trihalomethanes (TTHMs, including chloroform) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). DBP levels tend to be highest in surface water systems and in warm months when organic matter is elevated.
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Data source: Utility data from EPA SDWIS. 79 active community water systems ingested. CCR contaminant data ingestion in progress.
Last updated: 2026-04-23