New Hampshire
New Hampshire sits in the Northeast and draws its water primarily from rivers, lakes, and groundwater. With roughly 1.4 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater.
New Hampshirewater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in New Hampshire
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 70 |
| Arsenic | 48 |
| Groundwater Rule | 44 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 29 |
| Combined Uranium | 15 |
| TTHM | 14 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
PFAS contamination from manufacturing has reshaped the state's drinking-water standards.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, New Hampshire currently tracks around moderate to severe conditions. New Hampshire has 677 community water systems serving about 1 million people; EPA records show 212 of them (31.3%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of New Hampshire in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 115 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 0.9 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 33.2%
- Irrigation share
- 0.6%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~3%
Primary water sources
- ≈ rivers
- ≈ lakes
- ≈ groundwater
Common questions
Is tap water safe in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has 677 community water systems serving about 1 million people. EPA records show 212 of them (31.3%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 211 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in New Hampshire's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Revised Total Coliform Rule, Arsenic, Groundwater Rule.
How much water does New Hampshire use per person?
Public water systems in New Hampshire withdraw about 115 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 33.2% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in New Hampshire?
As of 2026-06-09, 44.2% of New Hampshire is in drought (D1+) and 15.4% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in New Hampshire
6 trackedManchester
Manchester, NH water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Nashua
Nashua, NH water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Concord
Concord, NH water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
East Concord
East Concord, NH water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Derry Village
Derry Village, NH water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Dover
Dover, NH water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in New Hampshire
PFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
Explore