Water Sources

The City of Milford has 4 well facilities consisting of 11 wells. Our water source is groundwater. Wells draw from the Frederica, Federalsburg, Columbia, and Milford aquifers, drawing approximately 2.5 million gallons of water a day.

Purification & Quality

Water is treated with chlorine and fluoride, which is checked daily as the state requires. Reports are also sent in monthly and a total is sent in annually as well. Water quality reports are completed once a year and sent to each business and resident.

2022 Water Quality Report

Click here to learn what the City is doing to ensure water quality

Water Issues

Crews are on call 24 hours a day for water leaks from residential services or water main breaks. After hours, the Police Department can contact on-call personnel.

Periodic flushing of water mains is necessary to help maintain water quality. The quality of water entering the system is very high, however this quality can deteriorate as it moves through the system if the mains are not properly maintained. Passing a high volume of water at a higher than normal velocity removes sediments such as iron and manganese, which do not pose health concerns, but can affect the color and taste of the water.

Flushing also removes “stale” water. The system contains many loops, or interconnected grids, which allow the water to flow regularly. However, some areas have dead-ends where the water moves much more slowly and has a tendency to sit for a longer period of time. These dead-ends require periodic flushing to ensure proper oxygen and disinfectant levels as well as acceptable taste and smell.

As a result of the flushing, residents may notice discolored water. We assure you this water is not harmful to you or your home. The best way to rid your lines of the discolored water is to open a cold faucet (preferably outside) and allow the water to run until it is clear once again. Please avoid using hot water, as this will cause your water tank to fill with the discolored water. We also suggest that you avoid doing laundry during this time as it may discolor your clothing. Should you inadvertently wash clothes and notice a discoloration, this may be remedied by purchasing Iron Out, Rover, or other similar products available at grocery and hardware stores.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact us at 302-422-1110.

NOTE: Discolored water will sometimes occur. To alleviate this issue, run an outside spigot for a few minutes until the water runs clear again.

About Milford's Sewer Treatment

The Wastewater Division is responsible for maintaining 16 pump stations. The city's wastewater is pumped through our waste station and then out to the Kent County Treatment Plant in Frederica.

Water Conservation

In the bathroom—where over half of all water use inside a home takes place:

• Turn off the tap while shaving or brushing teeth.
• Showers use less water than baths, as long as you keep an eye on how long you've been lathering up. Learn tips on how to Shower Better.
• If you’re dreaming of a Better Bathroom, get ready for your mini-makeover.
• Calculate how much you can save with WaterSense labeled products in the bathroom!

In the kitchen—whip up a batch of big water savings:

• Plug up the sink or use a wash basin if washing dishes by hand.
• Use a dishwasher—and when you do, make sure it's fully loaded!
• Scrape your plate instead of rinsing it before loading it into the dishwasher.
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
• Thaw in the refrigerator overnight rather than using a running tap of hot water.
• Add food wastes to your compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal.

In the laundry room—where you can be clean AND green:

• Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.
• To save money on your energy bills, set your washing machine to use cold water rather than hot or warm water.