The EPA’s 2024-2025 monitoring of the Dover Water Department’s public water system, serving nearly 40,000 residents in Kent County, Delaware, found no detections of key PFAS compounds above reporting levels in groundwater-supplied drinking water. This record provides a baseline for understanding regional presence of these fluorinated compounds, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or "forever chemicals."
Federal Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFAS in 2024
The EPA has established federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) effective in 2024 for several PFAS compounds of concern. These MCLs currently apply to substances including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA). No MCLs exist yet for other PFAS compounds such as perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) or perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). The Dover system’s sampling results for all listed PFAS were below reporting thresholds and well under established MCLs, indicating no quantifiable presence in this data set.
Regional PFAS Sources: Firefighting Foam, Textile Finishing, and Landfills
Common sources contributing to PFAS presence in groundwater include use of firefighting foams, textile and fabric finishing processes, and landfill leachates. For the Dover water system, the EPA sampling does not demonstrate quantifiable PFAS from these sources within its groundwater supply wells. However, understanding local industrial history and land use can provide context when assessing potential risk areas or non-detected sources that might contribute to household water variations.
Scope of Samples and Implications of Sample Size
These results come from 32 sampling events across the Dover public water system sources between March 2024 and May 2025. While 32 is a substantial number, it represents a system-wide average rather than an individual well or household level analysis. Due to this spatial and temporal sampling scope, detection at an individual residence could vary and cannot be inferred solely from system data.
Influence of Plumbing Materials and Home Water Systems
Water entering homes from municipal systems can interact with plumbing materials that sometimes contribute additional chemicals or affect water chemistry independent of source water quality. Older pipes or fixtures may leach metals or other compounds, but these are separate considerations from PFAS found in source groundwater. Consequently, evaluating household-level water quality requires testing tap water directly.
Addressing Household PFAS Concerns with Filtration Technology
For residents seeking to reduce or remove potential PFAS compounds from household water, specialized filtration options are documented to adsorb or neutralize these substances effectively. The C-Series PFAS Forever Chemicals Filter ships ready to configure and is designed to target a broad range of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, including the compounds with federal MCLs. This technology complements regional water quality data by providing treatment at the point of use.
Ultimately, the definitive step for any household in Dover concerned about PFAS is to obtain a water test that identifies the presence and concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances specific to their tap water. A result showing PFAS levels below federal MCLs would confirm alignment with the regional system record and reduce uncertainty about your water quality.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2025-05-01. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025) for DOVER WATER DEPARTMENT (DE0000571), DE: 320 results across 10 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level