What was found in Lewes'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 | 6817.16 µg/L 68% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11345 µg/L — TALL PINES RESORT COMMUNITY SYS1 · 538 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 6817.16 µg/L 68% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11325 µg/L — TALL PINES RESORT COMMUNITY SYS1 · 538 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1310 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 295 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 673.15 µg/L — LOVE CREEK MHC · 210 people · 2018 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 153.315 µg/L 7.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: TALL PINES RESORT COMMUNITY SYS1 · 538 people · 2013 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 100 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 125.8 µg/L — LOVE CREEK MHC · 210 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 30.6 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 28.27 µg/L 188% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 14.0375 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 11.308 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 2.65515 µg/L 4.4% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.888 µg/L — ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 5,511 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.8995 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.3 µg/L — ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 5,511 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 5.242 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 4.0685 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 5,511 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.65515 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.27 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 5,511 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.8800 pCi/L 18% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.77 pCi/L — TALL PINES RESORT COMMUNITY SYS2 · 53 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.383 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 5,511 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.6100 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: ANGOLA CREST II · 159 people · 2017 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.5600 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 5,511 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.1500 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: LOVE CREEK MHC · 210 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.0440 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Highest in the city: ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 5,511 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0230 mg/L 153% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2025 | 7/8 | LCR |
| PFOS | 0.0095 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2024 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0083 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 5,511 people · 2025 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0061 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2024 | 2/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0057 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 5,511 people · 2025 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0043 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL · 5,511 people · 2025 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0035 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS · 9,627 people · 2024 | 1/8 | 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 Lewes
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS | 9,627 |
| ARTESIAN NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL | 5,511 |
| ANGOLA BEACH ESTATES | 1,400 |
| TALL PINES RESORT COMMUNITY SYS1 | 538 |
| LOVE CREEK MHC | 210 |
| ANGOLA CREST II | 159 |
| TALL PINES RESORT COMMUNITY SYS4 | 79 |
| TALL PINES RESORT COMMUNITY SYS2 | 53 |
Frequently asked questions about Lewes tap water
Is Lewes tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Lewes. 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 Lewes?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Lewes, Delaware to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Lewes's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Lewes include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, 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.