How PFAS Enters Groundwater or the Distribution System in This Region
Public water system in Bear and Hockessin draws from surface water sources
The Artesian Water Company serves over 230,000 people in Bear and Hockessin using surface water. This source can receive PFAS from environmental contamination upstream or runoff affecting the watershed.
PFAS chemicals come from local and regional industrial, commercial, and runoff sources
PFAS compounds originate from manufacturing, firefighting foam, and other uses in the region. These compounds can travel through the environment and enter surface water supplies used locally.
How Treated Water Differs at the Tap Once the Documented Technology Is in Place
Water filtered through the Pentair PFAS Forever Chemicals Filter reduces PFAS chemical levels
This filtration system is designed to target and reduce various PFAS compounds present in household water, helping address concerns linked to these persistent contaminants at the consumer’s tap.
Treated water may taste and feel different due to removal processes
Using this technology can alter the water’s taste or clarity by reducing some chemical constituents, though the exact changes depend on the initial water quality.
What Distinguishes This Problem From the Two Problems Most Often Confused With It
PFAS are distinct from common aesthetic water concerns like hardness and sediment
Unlike mineral content causing hardness or particulate matter causing cloudiness, PFAS are synthetic chemicals not related to typical water appearance or scale issues.
Detections of PFAS do not mean the water is unsafe or legally noncompliant
Government monitoring in this area found PFAS compounds at various levels, but detection alone does not indicate a violation or a direct health risk under EPA guidelines.
How Seasonal or Multi-Year Variation Shows in the Record
Sampling from May 2024 to February 2025 shows fluctuating detection levels for PFOA and PFOS
Out of 45 samples, PFOA was detected above the reporting level 8 times, with the highest at 0.0231 µg/L; PFOS was detected twice above the reporting level with a highest of 0.006 µg/L, showing variation within less than a year.
Other PFAS compounds show varied detection frequencies and levels
Compounds like PFHxS had a few detections, while others such as PFNA and HFPO-DA were not detected above reporting levels during this period, indicating compound-specific variability.
What 'Detected', 'Median', and 'Range' Mean in the Sampling Record on This Page
'Detected above reporting level' means an instrument measured the chemical above a minimum concentration
This term does not imply a safety breach but confirms measurable presence in sampled water.
The 'median of the detections' gives the midpoint concentration among only samples where the chemical was found
It helps understand a typical detected level but excludes samples where no chemical was found.
The 'highest' or 'range' shows the maximum concentration recorded in any sample
This indicates the largest measured amount during the sampling period but does not define household water content.
Conclusion: What Readers Should NOT Conclude From Area Data
Bear and Hockessin area public water system data cannot determine the exact PFAS levels in an individual household’s tap water; only specific testing of your home’s water can do that. Furthermore, detection in the regional system is not a safety violation or a guarantee of health risk. Understanding these distinctions is key when considering treatment options like the Pentair PFAS Forever Chemicals Filter, which helps reduce PFAS compounds at the point of use.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2025-02-19. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025) for ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY (DE0000552), DE: 450 results across 10 listed contaminants, 76 detections above the reporting level; 10 results above a 2024 federal MCL
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