Delaware Soil Drainage Rankings

How well does the soil drain across Delaware? We ranked every USDA survey area by the percentage of land classified as "well drained." Areas at the top of the list have soils where water moves through at a healthy rate — favorable for building, septic, and gardening. Areas at the bottom have more waterlogged or slowly-draining soils that may require engineered solutions.

The best-drained survey area is New Castle County, Delaware at 59% well-drained soils. The most drainage-challenged is Sussex County, Delaware at 27%. With 40% poorly-drained soils, properties in Sussex County, Delaware should budget for drainage engineering, alternative septic designs, or raised-bed gardening.

#Survey AreaWell DrainedPoorly DrainedDominant Class
1 New Castle County, Delaware 59% 20% Well drained
2 Kent County, Delaware 34% 50% Well drained
3 Sussex County, Delaware 27% 40% Well drained