We read 17 results from Artesian Southern Sussex Regional’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 2 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 18,015 people · Water system ID DE00A0323 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 4 | 2 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal10x the health goal |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 5 | 3.61 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal3.6x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range ND to 0.06 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.06 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorideaverage · range 23.7 to 58.1 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 5 | 36.8 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 0.03 to 2.98 · 2025 report, page 4 | 2.98 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.11 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 21.5 to 50.7 · 2025 report, page 4 | 37.1 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 21 to 104 · 2025 report, page 4 | 65.5 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.56 to 0.96 · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.96 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)average · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 5 | 1.73 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| pHaverage · range 6.56 to 8.52 · 2025 report, page 5 | 7.22 | — | — | Normal range |
| Total dissolved solidsaverage · range 149 to 269 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 5 | 211 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Alkalinityaverage · range 33 to 176 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 5 | 99 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Conductivityaverage · range 241 to 410 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 5 | 332 µS/cm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Hardnessaverage · range 3.04 to 5.85 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 5 | 4.62 gpg (79 ppm) | — | — | Moderately hard |
| Nickelhighest measured · range ND to 5 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 4 | 5 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumaverage · range 32.6 to 82.9 · 2025 report, page 5 | 52.5 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 1 number we weren’t sure about is held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Artesian Southern Sussex Regional’s water between May 2023 and Nov 2023. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOS4.7 pptFound in 2 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOS (a PFAS), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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