Bear
Bear, DE water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
villagebrook
groundwater (wells) · private · PWSID DE0020141
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Bear, DE is a small but growing city, with a population near 19,371 and the 5th-largest community in Delaware. Like much of Delaware, Bear draws its water primarily from Delaware River and coastal aquifers.
Bear's water outlook is shaped most by saltwater intrusion — the issue that dominates planning across Delaware. Low-lying coastal aquifers are vulnerable to saltwater intrusion and contamination.
Bear sits in a state that reuses roughly 5% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences severe to extreme drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Delaware state water profile and the related issues below.
New Castle County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~19,371 (5th-largest in Delaware)
- Primary sources: Delaware River and coastal aquifers
- Drought: severe to extreme conditions
- State reuse rate: ~5% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Delaware in severe+ drought (Extreme (D3) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Bear?
Bear's largest water system, VILLAGEBROOK, serves about 847 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 10.9 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Bear get its water?
VILLAGEBROOK draws primarily from groundwater (wells), part of Delaware's supply from Delaware River, coastal aquifers.
Related water issues
Saltwater Intrusion
As coastal aquifers are over-pumped and seas rise, saltwater pushes inland and contaminates freshwater supplies for cities from Florida to California.
ExplorePFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
Explore