We read 12 results from Dewey Beach Water Department’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 31,000 people · Water system ID DE0000825 · Read the district’s 2024 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2024 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 4 | 0.33 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal1.1x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)average · range 8 to 11 · printed as 0.010 ug/L · Entry point (UCMR 5) · 2024 report, page 5 | 10 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20292.5x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · range 4 to 4 · printed as 0.004 ug/L · Entry point (UCMR 5) · 2024 report, page 5 | 4 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal4x the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 1 to 1.4 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 4 | 1.4 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)single sample · range 1.2 to 1.2 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 4 | 1.2 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)single sample · range 5.86 to 5.86 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 4 | 5.86 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridesingle sample · range 0.24 to 0.24 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry point · 2024 report, page 4 | 0.24 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)single sample · range 5.42 to 5.42 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry point · 2024 report, page 4 | 5.42 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)average · range 2 to 4 · printed as 0.003 ug/L · Entry point (UCMR 5) · 2024 report, page 5 | 3 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)average · range 5 to 5 · printed as 0.005 ug/L · Entry point (UCMR 5) · 2024 report, page 5 | 5 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)average · range 4 to 4 · printed as 0.004 ug/L · Entry point (UCMR 5) · 2024 report, page 5 | 4 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFPeA (a PFAS)average · range 4 to 4 · printed as 0.004 ug/L · Entry point (UCMR 5) · 2024 report, page 5 | 4 ppt | 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.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Dewey Beach Water Department’s water between Jun 2024 and Dec 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA11 pptFound in 2 of 2 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS3.5 pptFound in 1 of 2 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS5 pptFound in 2 of 2 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
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.
Copper
Found: Copper
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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