Is Delaware’s Drinking Water Safe? You’d Better Start Prepping Now.
Let me hit you with the hard truth right out the gate: if you’re trusting your government, your city, or some bureaucrat in a tie to deliver clean, safe drinking water in Delaware—or anywhere, for that matter—you’re gambling with your life. I don’t care what the reports say. “Compliant with federal standards” doesn’t mean jack when it comes to the sludge they pump into your pipes.
Delaware’s drinking water? Yeah, it’s been on the hot seat for decades. Don’t let a few smiling officials or a shiny website tell you otherwise. The water in parts of the state—especially around New Castle County and Sussex—has tested positive for everything from PFAS (a.k.a. “forever chemicals”) to nitrates, lead, and who knows what else they’re not telling you. And that’s during a “normal” year. Throw in a flood, a power outage, or an industrial spill, and you’re one pipe burst away from drinking poison.
And here’s the kicker: they still call it “safe.”
Safe? For who? Rats? Roaches? Corporate profits? Certainly not for the people trying to survive off the grid, or anyone with half a brain who actually tests their tap water.
Let me lay it out for you straight, because the system won’t: if you’re not actively filtering your own water—right now—you’re already behind. If you’re waiting until the taps run dry or smell like a gas station bathroom, you’ll be too late.
So, whether you’re holed up in the backwoods of Sussex County or stuck in an apartment in Wilmington, you need water filtration survival skills. Not tomorrow. Not when the next disaster hits. TODAY.
15 Water Filtration Survival Skills Every Delawarean (and Patriot) Must Know:
1. Learn to Boil and Let Cool.
Simple but effective. Boiling kills bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Let it cool in a clean, covered container. Use this method as your base survival skill.
2. DIY Sand and Gravel Filter.
Layer fine sand, activated charcoal, and gravel in a plastic bottle. Pour dirty water in the top and let gravity do the work. Not perfect, but it buys time.
3. Build a Solar Still.
Dig a hole, line it with plastic, place a container in the center, and cover with clear plastic. Let the sun condense pure water into the container. Science and sweat.
4. Use Activated Charcoal.
This stuff is the black gold of filtration. It absorbs toxins and improves taste. You can make your own from burned hardwoods.
5. Master Chemical Disinfection.
Bleach (unscented, no additives). Use 8 drops per gallon of water, shake it, wait 30 minutes. Chlorine dioxide tablets also work wonders.
6. Learn How to Use a LifeStraw.
This little tool filters bacteria and protozoa on the go. Lightweight, lifesaving. Carry one in every bug-out bag and glove box.
7. Gravity Fed Filtration Systems.
Berkey-style filters aren’t just for “preppers”—they’re for anyone with common sense. Build your own if needed: stackable buckets, ceramic filters, and patience.
8. Purify with UV Light.
UV pens can sterilize clear water fast. No electricity? Use the sun—Solar UV disinfection (SODIS) works by leaving clear PET bottles in direct sunlight for 6 hours.
9. Use the Cloth Pre-Filter Method.
Wrap a T-shirt or coffee filter around your container to catch large debris before filtration. A dirty cloth today can mean clean water tomorrow.
10. Dig a Seep Well.
If you’re near a contaminated source, dig a few feet away and let the water seep in naturally. The ground acts as a crude pre-filter.
11. Distillation Setup.
Capture clean steam by boiling water and funneling the vapor into a cool container. Tedious, but it removes everything—including heavy metals.
12. Master the Use of Natural Filters.
Plants like banana peels, moringa seeds, and even certain mosses can remove impurities. Know your biology—or carry a guidebook.
13. Identify Water Sources by Terrain.
Learn where water gathers—valleys, rock beds, tree roots. Knowing where to look is half the battle.
14. Carry Redundant Filters.
Two is one, one is none. Always carry backups—compact pump filters, ceramic units, or iodine tablets. Gear breaks; your need doesn’t.
15. Test Water Regularly.
If you’re not testing, you’re guessing. Use at-home water testing kits to check for lead, nitrates, and pathogens—especially in Delaware, where pollution knows no bounds.
3 DIY Survival Drinking Water Hacks (That Could Save Your Life)
1. Pine Tree Water Collector
Delaware has pines in spades. Tie a plastic bag over green pine branches in direct sunlight. Water vapor will collect in the bag through transpiration. It’s slow—but drinkable.
2. Emergency Tin Can Boiler
No pot? No problem. Take an empty food can, fill with water, and heat it over a fire. Sterilized water in 10 minutes. Add rocks to stabilize or improvise a handle with wire.
3. Wild Grape Vine Tap
Cut a mature wild grapevine (thick and green), about 3 feet from the ground. Tilt the vine down and let it drip into a container. Fresh, potable water, but make sure it’s the right vine or you’re drinking death.
Why Trusting Delaware’s Tap is a Deadly Gamble
Let me remind you: Delaware has over 90 water systems. The biggest ones—like the City of Wilmington and Artesian Water Company—have faced scrutiny and violations over the years. We’re talking lead, PFAS, disinfection byproducts, and more. And don’t think bottled water is your golden ticket either—half of that stuff is glorified tap in a plastic coffin.
Go ahead. Look up the EPA violations. See how long they’ve let nitrates fester in the farm runoff zones. Investigate the “acceptable” PFAS levels the state tolerates, despite studies linking them to cancer, infertility, and immune dysfunction.
And when the lights go out—during the next hurricane, or cyberattack, or chemical spill—guess who’s NOT bringing you a bottle of clean water? The government. You’re on your own, and if you haven’t prepared, you’re already prey.
Final Word from a Man Who Trusts No Tap
Delaware’s water isn’t just questionable—it’s a warning shot. If you’re not ready, you’re vulnerable. The comforts of city plumbing can vanish overnight. The guy next door with a well and a filtration system? He’ll be just fine. You? You’ll be boiling puddles in a rusty can.
So get angry. Get smart. Get self-reliant.
Because when it comes to clean water, hope is not a survival strategy.
TheDailyChristian 