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Is Delaware artesian water safe
Executive summary
Delaware’s Artesian Water Company publishes annual water quality reports and says it provides “high‑quality, reliable water,” and state regulators (Delaware Division of Public Health) oversee drinking water safety [1] [2]. Independent trackers like EWG list contaminant test results for Artesian systems and point users to specific chemicals that may be present [3]. Reporting also shows Artesian has invested in PFAS monitoring and treatment and has installed multiple treatment technologies in response to contamination issues tied to a nearby landfill Superfund site [4] [5].
1. Who regulates “safe” drinking water in Delaware — and what that means
Delaware’s drinking water safety is enforced by the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) under federal EPA rules; utilities like Artesian must produce annual Water Quality Reports to customers showing monitoring results and compliance information [2] [1]. Compliance with EPA and state standards is the regulatory baseline for declaring a system “safe” in public reports; Artesian repeatedly points customers to those annual reports and to EPA/DPH resources for more detail [1] [6].
2. What Artesian’s own reporting says
Artesian posts annual Water Quality Reports and states it provides “consistently high‑quality, reliable water,” mailing those reports each spring and making them available online for customers to review [1] [6] [7]. The company’s public materials emphasize routine monitoring and invite customers to inspect the full water quality report for detailed test results and any detected contaminants [1] [6].
3. Independent data and consumer tools point to specifics
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) maintains a Tap Water Database page for Artesian that compiles utility test results and EPA enforcement data, and it is a tool for consumers to “find out which pollutants might be of concern” and learn about filters that remove them [3]. EWG’s approach is to surface measured contaminants and offer health‑based context; the presence of a listing does not by itself mean a system is out of compliance, but it does highlight which substances to inspect in the annual report [3].
4. PFAS monitoring and treatment — proactive investments and the backstory
Reporting shows Artesian has invested in PFAS testing and in upgrading treatment equipment across multiple facilities — including spending millions to install treatment aimed at removing PFAS — and the company says it began sampling and installing treatment as early as 2013 in anticipation of EPA action [4]. That investment was presented as proactivity in response to evolving federal standards [4].
5. Past contamination and remediation actions matter for some customers
State and public‑advocate reporting describes a history in which releases from a former landfill impacted groundwater and led to a Superfund designation; Artesian subsequently installed multiple treatment technologies (granular activated carbon, UV advanced oxidation, filters) to ensure the water meets state and federal drinking water standards, and there was a settlement that produced customer bill credits tied to that issue [5]. This demonstrates that while the system is operating under treatment and remediation, there has been a localized contamination episode that required long‑term response [5].
6. How to answer “Is it safe?” — evidence and limits
Available public information shows Artesian operates under DPH/EPA oversight, publishes annual water quality reports, and has made specific investments and treatment upgrades for PFAS and landfill‑related contamination [2] [1] [4] [5]. Whether the water is “safe” for any particular person depends on the contaminants of concern (e.g., PFAS, other chemicals, microbial risks), the most recent analytical results in the utility’s Water Quality Report, and personal health circumstances; consumers are directed to inspect the utility’s report and EWG’s system page for chemical‑by‑chemical detail [1] [3].
7. Practical next steps for residents and interested parties
Residents should (a) read Artesian’s most recent Water Quality Report for the specific contaminant list and measured concentrations (Artesian posts these annually) [1] [6]; (b) consult the EWG Tap Water page for Artesian for an alternative compilation and filter recommendations if specific chemicals are detected [3]; and (c) contact Artesian or DPH with questions about system compliance, treatment methods, or health concerns—the company lists customer service and emergency contacts and posts report links online [8] [7].
Limitations: available sources do not provide the latest numeric contaminant values in this summary — readers must consult the current Water Quality Report or EWG system page for exact concentrations and any recent violations or notices [1] [3].