New Hampshire

Water quality data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System

Lead Risk: High Risk

Water Systems

4,131

Active public water systems

Population Served

1.17M

Residents with piped water

Lead Violations

482

Systems exceeding 15 ppb

Copper Violations

224

Lead & Copper Rule

Average Lead Level

27.64 ppb

EPA Action Level: 15 ppb

MCLG (health goal): 0 ppb

0 ppbAction Level: 15 ppb

Average across 554 systems with reported lead data.

Violations Detected

706 water systems in New Hampshire have reported violations under the Lead and Copper Rule. These utilities are required to notify customers and take corrective action.

482 lead violations224 copper violations

Water Systems: Highest Lead Levels

System NameCityPopulationLead LevelStatusSample Date
LAKEPORT21,0004.00 ppbOK2023-12-31
SEABROOK14,0003.00 ppbOK2024-12-31
ROCHESTER25,0002.00 ppbOK2023-12-31
SALEM21,0002.00 ppbOK2024-12-31
CONCORD44,2151.00 ppbOK2023-12-31
DOVER29,0001.00 ppbOK2024-12-31
MANCHESTER123,5000.00 ppbOK2024-06-30
NASHUA89,0730.00 ppbOK2023-12-31
PORTSMOUTH33,0000.00 ppbOK2024-12-31
KEENE30,0000.00 ppbOK2024-12-31
MERRIMACK25,5000.00 ppbOK2024-06-30
DERRY17,2100.00 ppbOK2023-12-31
HUDSON16,7000.00 ppbOK2024-12-31
DURHAM16,0000.00 ppbOK2024-12-31
EXETER12,2360.00 ppbOK2024-12-31

Showing top 15 of 527 systems with lead data. Action level: 15 ppb.

Systems With Active Violations

These water systems have exceeded EPA limits and must take corrective action.

PORTSMOUTH WATER WORKS

PORTSMOUTH · Pop. 33,000

Copper

Lead: 0.00 ppb (2024-12-31)

KEENE WATER DEPT

KEENE · Pop. 30,000

Copper

Lead: 0.00 ppb (2024-12-31)

HUDSON WATER DEPT

HUDSON · Pop. 16,700

Copper

Lead: 0.00 ppb (2024-12-31)

SEABROOK WATER DEPT

SEABROOK · Pop. 14,000

Copper

Lead: 3.00 ppb (2024-12-31)

Water Source Types

Groundwater3748 (93%)
Unknown180 (4%)
Surface Water48 (1%)
Purchased Surface Water36 (1%)
Purchased Groundwater16 (0%)

Resources

Air Quality

Good

Avg AQI

38.8

PM2.5

5.2 µg/m³

Unhealthy Days

1

Primary Pollutant

Ozone

AQI 0 (Good)AQI 100 (Moderate)200+

Source: EPA AirNow & American Lung Association 2024 State of the Air. AQI scale: 0–50 Good · 51–100 Moderate · 101–150 Sensitive Groups · 151+ Unhealthy.

PFAS Contamination

High Detection

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as “forever chemicals,” are a group of synthetic chemicals that persist indefinitely in the environment and human body. The EPA set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS in April 2024. View national PFAS tracker →

Systems Tested

248

PFAS Detected

202

Detection Rate

81.5%

Exceeding MCL (4 ppt)

68(27.4%)

0%Detection rate: 81.5%100%

Highest recorded level: 185 ppt (EPA MCL: 4 ppt). EWG: 202 systems above proposed limits (4th highest nationally). Pease AFB (PFAS from firefighting foam) and Saint-Gobain Merrimack plant are major sources. State has own MCLs

Data source:EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Lead and Copper Rule monitoring data. Lead levels represent 90th percentile results from the most recent monitoring period. Violations indicate exceedances of EPA action levels requiring corrective action. This tool is for informational purposes only and does not replace your utility's official Consumer Confidence Report.