Dover
Dover, NH water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
dover water dept
groundwater (wells) · local government · PWSID NH0651010
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Dover, NH is a small but growing city, with a population near 30,880 and the 6th-largest community in New Hampshire. Like much of New Hampshire, Dover draws its water primarily from rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
Dover's water outlook is shaped most by pfas contamination — the issue that dominates planning across New Hampshire. PFAS contamination from manufacturing has reshaped the state's drinking-water standards.
Dover sits in a state that reuses roughly 3% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences moderate to severe drought.
For the bigger picture, see the New Hampshire state water profile and the related issues below.
Strafford County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~30,880 (6th-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 Dover?
Dover's largest water system, DOVER WATER DEPT, serves about 29,000 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 Dover get its water?
DOVER WATER DEPT draws primarily from groundwater (wells), 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.
Explore