Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 231,114 residents in BEAR, Delaware using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 302-453-2389.
Is BEAR tap water safe to drink?
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 231,114 residents in BEAR and 1 other community, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 17 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dibromoacetic acid, 1,4-Dioxane, Bromoform. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for BEAR residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.424 ppt, 424x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 24.9 ppb, 415x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 32.7 ppb, 218x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for BEAR
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 55/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.424 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 424× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
24.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 415× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
32.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 218× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
14.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 141× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.25 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 104× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
3.2 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.43 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
24.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 60× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.37 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 37× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.524 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.51 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 25× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.89 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 21× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.99 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.27 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 14× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.34 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.636 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 1.8× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.652 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.171 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.0081 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
89.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
22.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
7.95 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.8 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| MTBE Volatile organic compound |
0.237 ppb | 13.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
12.6 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
6.61 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.106 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt Other |
0.352 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
1.69 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.65 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00222 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.586 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.39 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.132 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.008 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| bis(2-chloroethyl) ether Other |
0.0185 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.00861 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.65 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0175 ppb | — | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
1.75 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.72 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY service area
This water system serves 2 communities in New Castle County, Delaware. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BEAR water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.