What was found in Newark'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 | 6212.5 µg/L 62% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 6208.13 µg/L 62% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1218 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 742.2 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 209.04 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2015 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 57.44 µg/L 72% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 49.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 45.535 µg/L 76% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 25.28 µg/L 169% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 25.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 20.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16.535 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 11.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 3.896 µg/L 78% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.38 µg/L 3.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2015 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.715 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.1385 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | 0.5100 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.3460 µg/L 6.9% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.3330 µg/L 5.6% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chlordane | 0.2000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.1429 µg/L 4.8% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 0.1400 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.1115 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.0908 pCi/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2016 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| PFOA | 0.0253 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.0250 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | 0.0134 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0132 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0126 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0112 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0079 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0075 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0066 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0055 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0010 mg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT · 40,000 people · 2024 | 2/2 | 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 Newark
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT | 40,000 |
| ASCOT LANDING SUBDIVISION | 338 |
Frequently asked questions about Newark tap water
Is Newark tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 37 contaminants in the water serving Newark. 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 Newark?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Newark, Delaware to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Newark's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Newark 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.