Is Wilmington tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Wilmington's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

82/100
Purity Score
2
Issues Found
3.5 GPG
Hardness
Unknown
PFAS

2 Issues Detected in Wilmington

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Wilmington

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.3 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Wilmington
Delaware

198,011,980,219,803 · Brandywine Creek

Wilmington Water Quality Report (2026)

Low Risk Updated March 2026 70,851 residents
See Best Filters for Wilmington
82
Purity Score

This report analyzes Wilmington's tap water across five key indicators: PFAS, lead, hardness, chlorine, and TDS. Each section links to deeper data and filter options suited to DE water conditions.

Contaminant Levels

Lead
5.5 ppb
Nitrate
0.5 mg/L
Arsenic
0.3 mg/L
Hardness
3.5 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    PFAS testing data is limited for Wilmington. Residents concerned about exposure may want to test independently.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Wilmington's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

82 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Wilmington tap water is sourced from Brandywine Creek and treated by Artesian Water Company. Overall purity score: 82/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Wilmington's 2 issues.

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Explore Wilmington Water Data

PFAS Levels in WilmingtonPFAS testing data
Wilmington Lead LevelsLead testing data
Water Hardness in WilmingtonHardness levels
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DelawareState rankings

Wilmington Water FAQ

Is Wilmington DE tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Wilmington tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 82/100 (Good) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Wilmington DE use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Wilmington uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.5 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Wilmington DE water and what is the TDS level?
Wilmington water hardness is 3.5 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 120 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Wilmington DE drinking water?
PFAS testing data for Wilmington is incomplete or pending under EPA UCMR5 monitoring. Check your utility CCR report for the latest results. A certified filter provides precautionary protection.
What is the best water filter for Wilmington?
Based on Wilmington's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Wilmington has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

Nearby Reports

DoverDelaware — 82/100NewarkDelaware — 82/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Artesian Water Company CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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