Sussex, DE
Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology. This is a different measure than the EJ Screening score for this county, which ranks it by percentile against other tracked counties rather than against these fixed caps.
Environmental data for Sussex in Delaware · Population: 247,799
TRI sites such as Mountaire Farms of Delaware Inc; Perdue Foods LLC - Georgetown Processing Plant; Allen Harim Foods LLC - Harbeson; SDWIS systems such as DEWEY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT; REHOBOTH BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT; SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY; NPL sites such as Blades Groundwater; Georgetown North Groundwater; Millsboro TCE anchor Sussex, DE's EPA extract. Derived burden score 75/100 (High Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Sussex include MILFORD WATER DEPARTMENT; LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS; MILLSBORO WATER DEPARTMENT, while Mountaire Farms of Delaware Inc leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 40 / peak 90 in 2024.
Burden score 75/100 (High Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Sussex -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.
Release-over-release change
What changed for Sussex, DE: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
Same facilities, both years
-28.0%
15 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023
Whole inventory
-28.0%
1.2 million lb → 856.3 thousand lb, every facility that filed
Between the two reporting years, 1 facility filed for the first time and 1 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.
- Sussex, DE's total reported releases fell from 1.2 million lb in 2022 to 855.8 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Sussex, DE's off-site transfers rose from 53.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 191.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Sussex, DE's land releases fell from 581.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 38.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Sussex, DE's water releases rose from 482.8 thousand lb in 2022 to 561.6 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
Air Quality History (2020–2024)
EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy (SG) | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 298 (82%) | 67 | 0 | 90 |
| 2023 | 215 (59%) | 144 | 3 | 203 |
| 2022 | 274 (75%) | 91 | 0 | 87 |
| 2021 | 277 (76%) | 88 | 0 | 100 |
| 2020 | 286 (78%) | 80 | 0 | 87 |
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)
For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Delaware, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.
Water Systems (61)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| DEWEY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT | 31,000 | 0 |
| REHOBOTH BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT | 25,000 | 0 |
| SUSSEX SHORES WATER COMPANY | 12,450 | 0 |
| BETHANY BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT | 12,000 | 0 |
| LONG NECK WATER COMPANY | 11,000 | 0 |
| MILFORD WATER DEPARTMENT | 9,800 | 1 |
| LEWES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS | 9,627 | 2 |
| MILLSBORO WATER DEPARTMENT | 8,568 | 6 |
| GEORGETOWN WATER DEPARTMENT | 7,259 | 1 |
| SEAFORD WATER DEPARTMENT | 6,699 | 1 |
| BRIDGEVILLE WATER DEPARTMENT | 6,000 | 0 |
| LAUREL WATER DEPARTMENT | 3,984 | 3 |
| MILTON WATER DEPARTMENT | 3,200 | 0 |
| REHOBOTH BAY COMMUNITY | 1,575 | 1 |
| MALLARD LAKES | 1,500 | 0 |
| ANGOLA BEACH ESTATES | 1,400 | 0 |
| BLADES, TOWN OF | 1,200 | 1 |
| GREENWOOD WATER DEPARTMENT | 973 | 2 |
| DAGSBORO WATER DEPT | 934 | 0 |
| LAUREL VILLAGE MHC | 918 | 0 |
| BAYWOOD GREENS | 909 | 0 |
| SEAGLASS AT REHOBOTH BEACH | 674 | 0 |
| HOME TOWN VILLAGE OF COOL BRANCH | 654 | 9 |
| VALLEY RUN WATER SYSTEM | 626 | 0 |
| CEDAR VILLAGE LLC | 600 | 2 |
| CAPE WINDSOR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION INC | 600 | 0 |
| TALL PINES RESORT COMMUNITY SYS1 | 538 | 4 |
| BAYSHORE MOBILE HOME PARK | 533 | 2 |
| HENLOPEN ACRES, TOWN OF | 522 | 0 |
| SILVER VIEW FARM | 398 | 0 |
| SAND HILL ACRES | 384 | 0 |
| GREATER ELLENDALE WATER DISTRICT | 350 | 0 |
| LONG NECK VILLAGE | 345 | 1 |
| SHAWNS HIDEAWAY SYSTEM #1 | 341 | 0 |
| CAREY ESTATES, LLC | 312 | 2 |
| AVALON WOODS OWNERS ASSOC INC | 306 | 2 |
| COUNTY SEAT GARDENS | 297 | 2 |
| COUNTRY LIVING MOBILE COURT | 255 | 0 |
| PINE RIDGE MOBILE HOME PARK | 222 | 0 |
| LOVE CREEK MHC | 210 | 0 |
| PEPPER RIDGE PARK | 209 | 0 |
| TODDS MOBILE COURT | 189 | 0 |
| ANGOLA CREST II | 159 | 1 |
| QUILLENS POINT | 150 | 0 |
| PINE VALLEY MOBILE HOME PARK | 145 | 0 |
| HOLIDAY ACRES, LLC | 132 | 0 |
| SAND HILL MOBILE HOME PARK | 120 | 0 |
| BETHANY CREST LLC | 115 | 6 |
| SHADY OAK TRAILER COURT | 108 | 0 |
| CAPTAIN'S WAY | 102 | 0 |
| GREENWOOD LIFE COMMUNITY | 100 | 0 |
| STAGE VILLAGE MHC | 93 | 0 |
| TALL PINES RESORT COMMUNITY SYS4 | 79 | 0 |
| CHERRY CREEK VALLEY | 78 | 13 |
| FISH HOOK MOBILE HOME PARK | 72 | 3 |
| COUNTRY REST HOME | 65 | 1 |
| PLEASANT ACRES, LLC | 60 | 0 |
| TALL PINES RESORT COMMUNITY SYS2 | 53 | 0 |
| GREENWOOD COUNTRY RETIREMENT | 50 | 0 |
| BRUMBLEY'S FAMILY PARK | 48 | 0 |
| FOREST PARK | 25 | 36 |
TRI Facilities (20)
| # | Facility | Total Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountaire Farms of Delaware Inc | 2.6M lbs |
| 2 | Perdue Foods LLC - Georgetown Processing Plant | 2.2M lbs |
| 3 | Allen Harim Foods LLC - Harbeson | 434.5K lbs |
| 4 | Simmons Bridgeville | 60.3K lbs |
| 5 | Justin Tanks LLC | 42.8K lbs |
| 6 | Indian River Generating Station | 19.7K lbs |
| 7 | Mountaire Farms Inc. - Selbyville Plant | 16.2K lbs |
| 8 | The Pictsweet Co - Bridgeville de Plant | 4.3K lbs |
| 9 | Orient Corp of America | 603 lbs |
| 10 | Allen Harim Foods LLC - Millsboro | 535 lbs |
| 11 | Brainerd LLC | 521 lbs |
| 12 | Intervet Inc. (dba Merck Animal Health) | 6 lbs |
| 13 | Dentsply Sirona - Milford Site | 1 lbs |
| 14 | Bridgeville Feed Mill & Grain Storage | 0 lbs |
| 15 | Amick Farms LLC | 0 lbs |
| 16 | Mountaire Farms Inc - Frankford Feed Mill | 0 lbs |
| 17 | Spi Pharma Inc. | 0 lbs |
| 18 | Gac Seaford Inc | 0 lbs |
| 19 | Allen Harim Farms Llc- Seaford Mill | 0 lbs |
| 20 | Seaford Rmc Facility | 0 lbs |
Superfund Sites (5)
| Site Name | Status | HRS Score |
|---|---|---|
| Blades Groundwater | NPL Site | 50.00 |
| Georgetown North Groundwater | NPL Site | 50.00 |
| Millsboro TCE | Proposed NPL Site | 50.00 |
| NCR Corp. (Millsboro Plant) | NPL Site | 38.21 |
| Sussex County Landfill No. 5 | Deleted NPL Site | 28.90 |
Cities in Sussex (20)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Sussex, Delaware? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Sussex? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Sussex? ▼
What is the air quality in Sussex? ▼
Is the drinking water safe in Sussex? ▼
What environmental agencies cover Sussex? ▼
What does this county environmental profile show?
This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.