What was found in New Castle'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 | 3600 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 3600 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1200 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 330 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 48.56 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 130.875 µg/L — MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION · 5,549 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.605 µg/L 51% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 127.75 µg/L — MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION · 5,549 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 75.315 µg/L 94% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 54.22 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 51.26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 30.875 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 21.825 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 12.1 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2013 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.645 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.48 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 4.675 µg/L 9.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION · 5,549 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.4525 pCi/L 9% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2013
Highest in the city: 4.384 pCi/L — MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION · 5,549 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.92 µg/L 2.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2015 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.7500 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.773 µg/L — MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION · 5,549 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.52 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.24 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.8290 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION · 5,549 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 0.5950 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 0.8000 µg/L — MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION · 5,549 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.6100 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 0.2082 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 0.1806 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0406 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.1472 µg/L — MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION · 5,549 people · 2023 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0321 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.1229 µg/L — MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION · 5,549 people · 2023 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Atrazine | 0.1000 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Simazine | 0.0900 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.0880 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0317 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0277 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0244 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFNA | 0.0116 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0020 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0070 mg/L — HUNTERS RUN · 683 people · 2025 | 5/5 | LCR |
| Pfda | 0.0047 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfuna | 0.0038 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0037 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC · 100,495 people · 2023 | 1/5 | 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 New Castle
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| VEOLIA WATER DELAWARE, INC | 100,495 |
| MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMISSION | 5,549 |
| HUNTERS RUN | 683 |
| KINGSMILL | 381 |
| GLASGOW PINES II | 235 |
Frequently asked questions about New Castle tap water
Is New Castle tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 39 contaminants in the water serving New Castle. 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 New Castle?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for New Castle, Delaware to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in New Castle's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in New Castle 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.