Concord
Concord, NH water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
concord water dept
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID NH0501010
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 42,620 residents, Concord ranks as the 3rd-largest city in New Hampshire and a small but growing city. Water in Concord is sourced chiefly from rivers, lakes, and groundwater, the backbone of New Hampshire's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: pfas contamination. PFAS contamination from manufacturing has reshaped the state's drinking-water standards.
Statewide, New Hampshire recycles about 3% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Concord faces moderate to severe drought conditions.
The New Hampshire state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Concord's water future.
Merrimack County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~42,620 (3rd-largest in New Hampshire)
- Primary sources: rivers, lakes, and groundwater
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of New Hampshire in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Concord?
Concord's largest water system, CONCORD WATER DEPT, serves about 44,215 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Concord get its water?
CONCORD WATER DEPT draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of New Hampshire's supply from rivers, lakes, groundwater.
Related water issues
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.
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