Newark, DE Water Quality Report

Is Newark tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Newark, Delaware. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Newark tap water safe to drink? Newark water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 1,800 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.

What contaminants are in Newark water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Newark water: PFOS (1,800 ppt), PFHxS (680 ppt), PFOA (140 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Newark? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Newark Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Newark drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 1,800 ppt across 7 water systems, representing an average of 14.07 ppt across 12 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOS: 1,800 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHxS: 680 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOA: 140 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHpA: 80 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFNA: 53.8 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)

Lead in Newark Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 99 lead samples for Newark water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.169 mg/L (above the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Newark

Newark public water systems have 11 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including 1925, Dichloroacetic Acid, Selenium, 1028, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Newark: approximately 33,398.

ZIP Codes Served

19702, 19711, 19713, 19714, 19715

What Newark Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually