What was found in Dover'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 | 4324.5 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4970 µg/L — DOVER BORO WATER SYS · 1,900 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 962.5 µg/L 74% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1156.5 µg/L — DOVER BORO WATER SYS · 1,900 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 236 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 283 µg/L — DOVER BORO WATER SYS · 1,900 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 188 µg/L 9.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: NEW LIFE FOR GIRLS · 80 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 58.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 39.52 µg/L 49% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 30 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 30 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 11.616 µg/L 39% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 25.7948 µg/L — DOVER BORO WATER SYS · 1,900 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 21 µg/L 140% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 19.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 14 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 7.2 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: NEW LIFE FOR GIRLS · 80 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.515 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.3 µg/L — DOVER BORO WATER SYS · 1,900 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4.1 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: NEW LIFE FOR GIRLS · 80 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2 µg/L — DOVER BORO WATER SYS · 1,900 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.8900 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.89 µg/L — DOVER BORO WATER SYS · 1,900 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 1.78 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 0.7900 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0106 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0096 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0064 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0057 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0049 mg/L 33% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2025 | 4/5 | LCR |
| Pfhpa | 0.0035 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: DOVER TWP WATER SYS · 21,097 people · 2025 | 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 Dover
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| DOVER TWP WATER SYS | 21,097 |
| DOVER BORO WATER SYS | 1,900 |
| LLEWELLYNS MHP | 250 |
| CONEWAGO VALLEY MHP | 225 |
| NEW LIFE FOR GIRLS | 80 |
Frequently asked questions about Dover tap water
Is Dover tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Dover. 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 Dover?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Dover, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Dover's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Dover include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium, Lithium. 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.