What was found in Harrington'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 1238.5 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 61.495 µg/L 4.7% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 980 µg/L — MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 2 · 36 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 700 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 2 · 36 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 700 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 2 · 36 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 62.36 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 2 · 36 people · 2017 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 10.3826 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 19.3144 µg/L — MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 4 · 72 people · 2018 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 6.274 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 18.7 µg/L — MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 2 · 36 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 15.965 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 12.8685 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 5.1104 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.8983 µg/L — MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 4 · 72 people · 2018 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 8.885 µg/L 8.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 3 · 45 people · 2017 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 5.3284 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.508 µg/L — MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 4 · 72 people · 2018 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 3.046 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.3000 pCi/L 6% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2013
Highest in the city: 1.15 pCi/L — MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 2 · 36 people · 2013 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1.009 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 4 · 72 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.8300 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.7300 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 3 · 45 people · 2017 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 0.6815 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 0.5950 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Highest in the city: MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 2 · 36 people · 2017 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT · 3,562 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0077 mg/L — MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 5 · 97 people · 2022 | 6/6 | LCR |
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 Harrington
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| HARRINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT | 3,562 |
| MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 5 | 97 |
| MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 4 | 72 |
| MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 6 | 63 |
| MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 3 | 45 |
| MESSICK'S MHC LLC SYSTEM 2 | 36 |
Frequently asked questions about Harrington tap water
Is Harrington tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Harrington. 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 Harrington?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Harrington, Delaware to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Harrington's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Harrington include Fluoride, Copper, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Barium. 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.