If you’re buying a home in Delaware, there’s one question that should be on your house-hunting checklist:
Where does the home’s drinking water come from?
While many Delaware homes are connected to public water systems, others—particularly properties outside more densely developed areas—rely on private wells.
For people relocating to Delaware, buying a home with a private well comes with an important difference: the homeowner is generally responsible for monitoring the quality of the household’s drinking water.
Delaware is now offering private-well users a resource that can help.
Residents who rely on private wells can request free water testing for PFAS and a range of other contaminantsthrough a statewide program offered by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS).
Buying a Home With a Well Is Different From Having Public Water
When comparing Delaware homes, buyers often focus on purchase price, property taxes, school districts, commute times and monthly housing expenses.
The home's water and wastewater systems deserve attention, too.
Unlike public drinking water systems, private wells are not regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Private well owners are generally responsible for making sure their drinking water is tested and their wells are properly maintained.
That makes the well an important part of a buyer's due diligence when evaluating a property.
If a home you're considering has a private well, buyers may want to find out when the well was installed, whether it has been regularly maintained, when the water was last tested and whether previous test results are available.
It's also important to determine whether the home has any water filtration or treatment equipment and why it was installed.
Delaware Offers Free Private-Well Testing
Delaware's statewide testing program gives private-well users an opportunity to learn more about the quality of the water they use for drinking, cooking and other household purposes.
Testing includes per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, along with a range of other contaminants.
The initiative is part of Delaware's expanded effort to identify and address potential drinking-water contaminants and supports a priority in the state's 2026 PFAS Implementation Plan to expand PFAS testing for private wells.
There is no cost to the resident for sampling or laboratory analysis.
After submitting the state's request and consent form, an agency staff member or the state's sampling contractor is expected to contact the applicant within approximately two weeks to schedule an appointment.
Questions to Ask Before Buying a Delaware Home With a Well
For relocators unfamiliar with private wells, knowing what to ask can be just as important as knowing that the property has one.
Questions worth discussing with your real estate agent, home inspector or other appropriate professionals include:
- When was the well installed?
- Where is the well located on the property?
- How deep is it?
- When was the water last tested?
- What contaminants were included in the testing?
- Are copies of previous laboratory results available?
- Has the well ever required repairs or remediation?
- Does the home use a filtration, softening or other water-treatment system?
- What ongoing maintenance should the new homeowner expect?
- Is the property also served by a private septic system?
Buyers should also understand what water testing, if any, is included as part of their home inspection or real estate transaction.
Add Water Source to Your Delaware Home Search
For someone moving from a community where virtually every house is connected to municipal water, purchasing a home with a private well can introduce a new homeownership responsibility.
That doesn't necessarily make a private-well property less attractive. It simply means buyers need to understand what they're purchasing.
A home's water source can be especially important when comparing properties with larger lots or homes outside Delaware's more developed areas.
Delaware's free testing program provides another tool for residents who rely on private wells to better understand their drinking water.
For relocators, the bigger takeaway is simple:
Before falling in love with a Delaware home, ask whether it has public water or a private well—and if it has a well, make water quality part of your homebuying due diligence.
Moving to Delaware?
Let’s Move to Delaware News provides state-specific news, housing information, community insights and resources designed to help people make more informed decisions about living, working and relocating to Delaware.