Drinking water
Find your public water system, read its annual report and understand what test results mean.
Explore tap-water records →A practical guide for Delaware
Find clear answers about the water around you.
Start with your water source, understand what the data measures, and follow the public record for drinking water, wells, beaches, waterways and coastal conditions.
Water · Land · Community
Different waters. Different measures.
What are you trying to find?
Choose a water topic
Practical guides and source links
Private wells
Learn about Delaware’s no-cost sampling program, routine testing and how to prepare a sample.
See well-testing steps →PFAS
Understand the state reporting law, public-system results, MCLs and the limits of available data.
Read the PFAS guide →Rivers & watersheds
Explore routine monitoring, impaired waters, sampling stations and the University of Delaware portal.
Explore water monitoring →Beach water
Understand recreational-water sampling, advisories, timing and what a clean sample can tell you.
Check before you swim →Coastal flooding
Learn about sea-level rise, tidal flooding, stormwater and how to use official planning resources.
Explore coastal conditions →Current resident resource · September 2026
Private-well testing is available at no cost through a state program.
Delaware announced free sampling and laboratory analysis for private-well households. Confirm current instructions and eligibility with the state before applying.
Read the practical guide →A useful starting point
For private-well households, the important questions are who collects the sample, which analytes are included, how results are delivered and what follow-up is available. The guide separates the announced program from routine annual testing recommendations.
Three kinds of water information
Do not combine these into one score
Drinking-water tests
Measure regulated contaminants in public systems or a specific well sample. The system, date, location and analyte matter.
Watershed monitoring
Measures conditions in streams, rivers and estuaries. It is environmental monitoring, not a test of a household tap.
Recreational-water samples
Help assess swimming conditions at monitored beaches and sites. Sampling is periodic, not continuous real-time surveillance.
One map cannot answer every water question. Public-system compliance, private-well safety, stream health and beach advisories use different programs and standards. Always check the exact source and sampling date.
Go to the official tools
Original records and agency resources
Drinking Water Watch
Look up public water-system records and reports.
Open state database ↗Recreational waters map
Check DNREC’s beach and recreational-water information.
Open state map ↗Water Quality Portal
Explore University of Delaware water monitoring records.
Open data portal ↗