States › Delaware › Sussex County

Sussex County, DE Water Quality

Water quality data for 21 public water systems serving Sussex County, Delaware — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 21 water systems · 25 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Sussex County Earns a B

Sussex County: 25 communities across 21 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 2.15 ppb
  • 12 communities with a lead detection, 13 reporting none detected
  • 10 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 4 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
2.15 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
21
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Laurel
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Long Neck
    1.10 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Ellendale
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Slaughter Beach
    1.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Milford
    Not detected
    1 health-based violation since 2015
    A
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Frankford
    2.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 3 sampling points
    D
  • South Bethany
    2.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 3 sampling points
    D
  • Fenwick Island
    2.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 3 sampling points
    D
  • Lewes
    23.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
    D
  • Georgetown
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 2 sampling points
    C
County Lead Level — Median 2.15 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 2.15 ppb — 14.3% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
9
5 – 10 ppb
2
10 – 15 ppb
1
No Data
13

All Cities in Sussex County

Milford Not detected A
Seaford Not detected A
Millsboro Not detected A
Georgetown Not detected C
Laurel Not detected A
Milton 7.20 ppb B
Lewes 23.00 ppb D
Long Neck 1.10 ppb A
Ocean View 2.30 ppb B
Bridgeville Not detected A
Selbyville Not detected B
Millville 2.30 ppb B
Delmar 2.00 ppb A
Blades Not detected B
Rehoboth Beach Not detected C
Greenwood Not detected B
Bethany Beach 4.90 ppb A
Frankford 2.00 ppb D
South Bethany 2.00 ppb D
Ellendale Not detected B
Dewey Beach Not detected C
Dagsboro 6.00 ppb B
Fenwick Island 2.00 ppb D
Slaughter Beach 1.00 ppb B
Henlopen Acres Not detected C
Showing 25 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Sussex County Drinking Water

Sussex County is served by 21 water systems covering 25 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 12 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.15 ppb — 14% of the federal action level. 13 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

10 of 25 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 4 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sussex County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Sussex County has an open violation on record. 10 of 25 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Sussex County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.15 ppb, 14% of the 15 ppb action level. 13 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Sussex County?▼
21 community water systems serve 25 communities here.
← Back to Delaware water quality overview