Manchester
Manchester, NH water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
manchester water works
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID NH1471010
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Manchester, NH is a mid-sized city, with a population near 110,229 and the largest community in New Hampshire. Like much of New Hampshire, Manchester draws its water primarily from rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
Manchester'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.
Manchester 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.
Hillsborough County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~110,229 (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 Manchester?
Manchester's largest water system, MANCHESTER WATER WORKS, serves about 123,500 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Manchester get its water?
MANCHESTER WATER WORKS 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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