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Community Water System · PWS DE0000592

Georgetown Water Department

Georgetown, Delaware 19947 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 7,259 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

7,259
People served
2
EPA violations
0
Health-based
11 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 2 drinking-water violations at Georgetown Water Department - below the Delaware per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 11 PFAS compounds.

2
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
7,259
People served by this system
11
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Georgetown Water Department

Georgetown Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 7,259 residents in Georgetown, Delaware (Sussex County) through 2,043 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 2 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed.

No specific contaminant violations have been recorded in EPA's detailed violation register for this system. Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 11 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 180 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Delaware, EPA tracks 460 public water systems serving 1,083,630 people, with 9,105 cumulative violations and 4,582 health-based violations on record. About 75% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 19.8 violations. Statewide, 25 of 35 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (71.4%).

Georgetown Water Department's 2 violations sit below the Delaware average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

11 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
7,259
Total Violations
2
Health-Based Violations
0
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,043
County
Sussex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
0
Treatment Tech Violations
0

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 25 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NFDHA 9/9/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/9/2025 180.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFHxA 9/9/2025 68.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 9/9/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/9/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/9/2025 24.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
4:2 FTS 9/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/9/2025 30.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFMPA 9/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/9/2025 110.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 9/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/9/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/9/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/9/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/9/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/9/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/9/2025 20.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 9/9/2025 39.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFOA 9/9/2025 36.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 9/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/9/2025 6.10 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFBS 9/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/9/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 3/5/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 3/5/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 3/5/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 3/5/2025 7.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 3/5/2025 4.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 3/5/2025 15.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFPeA 3/5/2025 4.30 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDA 3/5/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 3/5/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 3/5/2025 14.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOA 3/5/2025 11.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 3/5/2025 5.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
NEtFOSAA 3/5/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 3/5/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 3/5/2025 4.90 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFPeS 3/5/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 3/5/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 3/5/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 3/5/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 3/5/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 3/5/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Georgetown Water Department.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID DE0000592 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Delaware Drinking Water Authority

Delaware's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find DE regulator via EPA SDWIS

How Georgetown Water Department Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Georgetown Water Department Delaware avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 2 19.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 0 10 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 11 compounds 71.4% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 7,259 2,356 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 460 regulated public water systems in Delaware.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Georgetown Water Department water safe to drink?
Georgetown Water Department (PWS ID: DE0000592) has 2 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 11 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 7,259 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Georgetown Water Department serve?
Georgetown Water Department serves 7,259 people in Georgetown, Delaware. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 2,043 service connections.
What type of violations does Georgetown Water Department have?
Georgetown Water Department has 2 total violations: 0 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 0 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Georgetown Water Department water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 11 PFAS compounds in Georgetown Water Department's water supply: 6:2 FTS, PFHxA, PFBA, 8:2 FTS, PFPeA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Georgetown Water Department use?
Georgetown Water Department uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.