States ›Delaware ›Sussex County ›Lewes

Lewes, DE Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Lewes, DE — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Lewes's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Lewes Board Of Public Works PWSID: DE0000602 Updated: 2026 Q2
⚠️

PFAS above the federal limit

Lead is 23.00 ppb, 153% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 1.79 times the limit.

D

Lewes earns a D for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 23.00 ppb — 153% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
1 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Lewes's lead level vs. all Delaware community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 23.00 ppb — 100% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 0% of Delaware utilities
Population Served
2972
~3800 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
1 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
100% of EPA action level
23.00 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 23.00 ppb, 153% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2015 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

1 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Lewes Board Of Public Works
PWSID DE0000602
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 2,972
Service connections 3,800
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lewes tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 23.00 ppb, 153% of the action level.
Does Lewes water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 1.79 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Lewes? ▼
Lewes Board Of Public Works (PWSID DE0000602). Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-04-15. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Lewes Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

Nearby Cities in Delaware

Milford, De Tap Water Quality 2026 Sussex Seaford, De Tap Water Quality 2026 Sussex Millsboro, De Tap Water Quality 2026 Sussex Georgetown, De Tap Water Quality 2026 Sussex Laurel, De Tap Water Quality 2026 Sussex Milton, De Tap Water Quality 2026 Sussex