Kent County water treatment
Water treatment for Dover & Smyrna: groundwater utilities, Delaware's PFAS limits, nitrate in private wells, and a free water analysis.
Where Kent County's water comes from
Kent County's public systems, including the City of Dover and Smyrna, draw on groundwater, and much of the county's land is outside mapped service areas, where homes use private wells.
Key issues
- PFAS: Delaware's PFOA and PFOS limits of 4.0 ppt took effect in January 2026[1]. Utilities post results on Delaware Drinking Water Watch[2].
- Utility results: Smyrna reported PFOA up to 9.8 ppt in EPA UCMR 5 sampling; Dover reported no PFAS detections[3].
- Private wells: Delaware's Division of Public Health recommends testing every year for nitrate and bacteria, and offers free test kits and financial aid for well owners[4]. See nitrate.
Towns
Dover
Utility or well? ZIP 19901: about 70% of the land area lies outside mapped public water service areas[5]. Homes in those areas are likely on private wells, which no utility tests. If that's you, start with a free in-home test.
City of Dover Water Department
EPA water system ID DE0000571 · serves about 39,491 people · groundwater (wells)
- Health violations
- No health-based violations in the last three years; 1 older on record (manganese, Feb 2023, known, not yet resolved)[5]
- Lead
- 2 ppb at the 90th percentile of its most recent lead sampling (EPA action level: 15 ppb)[6]
- PFAS
- No PFAS were detected in its EPA UCMR 5 samples.[3]
Full EPA record for this system · Ask the utility for its annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for hardness and other details[7].
Smyrna
Utility or well? ZIP 19977: about 92% of the land area lies outside mapped public water service areas[5]. Homes in those areas are likely on private wells, which no utility tests. If that's you, start with a free in-home test.
Smyrna Water Department
EPA water system ID DE0000657 · serves about 11,813 people · groundwater (wells)
- Health violations
- No health-based violations on record[5]
- Lead
- 0 ppb at the 90th percentile of its most recent lead sampling (EPA action level: 15 ppb)[6]
- PFAS
- EPA UCMR 5 sampling found PFOA up to 9.8 ppt, PFOS up to 6.7 ppt, PFBS up to 6.9 ppt, PFPeA up to 4.7 ppt, so PFOA and PFOS were above the 4.0 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029.[3]
Full EPA record for this system · Ask the utility for its annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for hardness and other details[7].
Common problems here
Check your ZIP in Kent County, DE
Look up what your local water utility has reported to the EPA, then take a 60-second quiz about what you see, taste, and smell at home. We'll use both to recommend the right solution.
Get your water report
Enter your ZIP code to see your utility's violations, lead testing, and PFAS results from public EPA records, explained in plain English.
Data comes from U.S. EPA and Census public records. It covers public water systems, not private wells, and it isn't a test of your home's tap. If you're on a well, a free in-home test is the best way to know what's in your water.
Step 2
Your recommended solution
Based on your water report and quiz answers.
Common questions
How do I find out what's in my water in Kent County, DE?
Enter your ZIP in our free report for your utility's EPA records, check your utility's annual water quality report (CCR), or book a free in-home test. On a private well, use a state-certified lab for health-related tests.
Does WÜDR install in Kent County, DE?
Yes. We serve Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Enter your ZIP in the help form and we'll confirm your address.
Clean water starts with knowing what's in it.
Sources
- Delaware Public Health: PFAS in Delaware public drinking water. publichealthalerts.delaware.gov/pfas-in-delaware-public-drinking-water/
- Delaware Drinking Water Watch. drinkingwater.dhss.delaware.gov/
- U.S. EPA: UCMR occurrence data. www.epa.gov/dwucmr/occurrence-data-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule
- Delaware DPH: Financial aid program and free water testing kits for private well owners (Aug 31, 2023). news.delaware.gov/2023/08/31/dph-launches-new-financial-aid-program-for-private-well-owners-offers-free-water-testing-kits-to-delaware-residents/
- U.S. EPA: SDWIS Federal Reports (violations, lead and copper results). sdwis.epa.gov/ords/sfdw_pub/r/sfdw/sdwis_fed_reports_public/200
- U.S. EPA: Basic information about lead in drinking water. www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water
- U.S. EPA: Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) information for consumers. www.epa.gov/ccr/ccr-information-consumers
EPA records retrieved Oct 2026 from the EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5 public datasets. Utility records describe a water system, not the tap in your home. Records can lag and may be incomplete.