What was found in Bethany Beach's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 180 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4145 µg/L — SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY · 12,450 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 167.7 µg/L 1.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4125 µg/L — SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY · 12,450 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1068 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1200 µg/L — BETHANY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 958.1 µg/L 74% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 94.92 µg/L 119% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 83 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: BETHANY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT · 12,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 70.76 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 41 µg/L 68% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 30.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 29.44 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 29 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 24 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 21.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.69 µg/L — SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY · 12,450 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 9.75 µg/L 65% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 16.575 µg/L — BETHANY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 10.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.124 µg/L — SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY · 12,450 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.2235 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.769 µg/L — SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY · 12,450 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.43 µg/L 4.9% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.141 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.815 pCi/L 36% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 2.1 pCi/L — BETHANY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 2.03 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: BETHANY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT · 12,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.61465 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.18 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BETHANY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT · 12,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 1.07 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 0.6000 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY · 12,450 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 0.3408 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 0.1070 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.0810 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.0360 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0020 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0069 mg/L — SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY · 12,450 people · 2025 | 3/3 | LCR |
| PFOS | 0.0047 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 18,215 people · 2023 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Bethany Beach
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ARTESIAN SOUTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL | 18,215 |
| SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY | 12,450 |
| BETHANY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT | 12,000 |
Frequently asked questions about Bethany Beach tap water
Is Bethany Beach tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 32 contaminants in the water serving Bethany Beach. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Bethany Beach?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Bethany Beach, Delaware to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Bethany Beach's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Bethany Beach include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.