New Castle County, Delaware — public water systems

How does New Castle County compare with other Delaware counties?

New Castle County has the 3rd-most active public water systems among the 16 counties listed for active Delaware systems in EPA records; among the 8 with 3 or more systems, the median has 8. Its systems report 541,043 people served in total, the largest county figure in the state and 49% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 7,119 people, about 3.2 times the Delaware average of 2,238. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does New Castle County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, New Castle County's active systems draw on groundwater (56, 74%), purchased groundwater (15, 20%), surface water (3, 3.9%) and purchased surface water (2, 2.6%). Overall, 93% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 6.6% on surface water, compared with 98% and 2% across Delaware. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Artesian Water Company, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in New Castle County?

New Castle County's active systems break down as 31 community systems (41%), 17 non-transient non-community systems (22%) and 28 transient non-community systems (37%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (71%), local government (16%), state government (12%) and federal government (1.3%).