EPA Superfund Site

BLADES GROUNDWATER

DE | EPA ID DEN000304203

About this site’s exposure pathways: As of April 2025, there is insufficient information to determine the Sitewide Human Exposure Control at the Blades Groundwater Superfund Site. On September 3, 2020, the Site was listed to the National Priorities List. Domestic well water sampling was conducted and concluded there is per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), hexavalent chromium, lead, and cobalt contamination in groundwater used as drinking water. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) removal program took immediate action and provided residents with bottled water and individual treatment systems at residences with elevated concentrations of contaminants. The Site was broken into two Operable Units. Operable Unit 1 (OU1) was designated to address the sitewide Remedial Investigation, and Operable Unit 2 (OU2) was designated to address domestic well water impacts. In February 2024, EPA developed a Record of Decision (ROD) for OU2: connection to a waterline with institutional controls (ICs). The area of concern is outside of the Town of Blades boundary, to the south and southwest, bounded by Morgan Branch and the Nanticoke River. While OU2 is in the remedial design phase, OU1 is still in the remedial investigation phase, which includes collecting groundwater, soil, sediment, and surface water data to fully define the nature and extent of contamination and aid in the development of a sitewide risk assessment. Since the remedial investigation is ongoing, additional data is needed to evaluate sitewide exposure via a risk assessment. Currently, there is insufficient information, but the EPA expects to be able to make a determination at the conclusion of the OU1 Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) anticipated in December 2026.

For additional information, please visit the Superfund Site’s Profile Page: https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0304203
The EPA highly encourages residences who are located within the bounds of OU2 to consider being connected to the future waterline extension. During the Remedial Design, letters will be sent out to each residence to determine properties that would like to opt-in to being connected to the new public waterline.