Is there PFAS in Sussex Shores Water Company water?
No PFAS were detected in any of the 4 samples EPA's program collected.
Sussex Shores Water Company is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Bethany Beach, Delaware, serving about 12,450 people, including Bethany Beach, Ocean View. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 4 times across 2 sampling points between Dec 2024 and Jun 2025.
Every PFAS detected
None of the 29 PFAS were found at or above EPA's minimum reporting levels (2 to 20 ppt depending on the compound).
Not detected: PFBA, PFEESA, 4:2 FTS, PFMPA, PFPeA, PFMBA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFHpS, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, HFPO-DA, PFTA, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFHxA, PFDoA, PFDA, PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, 8:2 FTS, NMeFOSAA, PFHpA, 6:2 FTS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
No PFAS action is needed on these results. If your water tastes or smells of chlorine, a whole-house city water filter is the usual fix.
Other systems in Delaware
- Bethany Beach Water Department none detected
- Smyrna Water Department above an EPA limit
- Dover Air Force Base none detected
- Long Neck Water Company none detected
- Garrison Lake Pump District none detected
- Camden Pump District none detected
All 36 tested systems in Delaware
ZIP codes served
19930 19970
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Sussex Shores Water Company water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID DE0000557. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/delaware/sussex-shores-water-company/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID DE0000557). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.