Is Rochester, NH Tap Water Safe? Quality & Contaminants

What was found in Rochester's water

The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.

Contaminant	Level vs EPA limit	Suppliers	Source
Fluoride	1700 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L	8/9	SYR4
Copper	405 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L	9/9	SYR4
TTHM	170 µg/L 213% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L	2/9	SYR4
Chloroform	160 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/9	SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	84.7 µg/L 141% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L	2/9	SYR4
Nitrate	51 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L	1/9	SYR4
Nitrate-Nitrite	51 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L	1/9	SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid	50 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/9	SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid	40 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/9	SYR4
Barium	33 µg/L 1.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L	7/9	SYR4
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U	20.1 pCi/L 134% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 pCi/L	3/9	SYR4
Lead	19.0449 µg/L 127% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L	6/9	SYR4
Bromodichloromethane	14 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/9	SYR4
Chromium	10.4 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L	4/9	SYR4
Monochloroacetic Acid	9.121 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/9	SYR4
Arsenic	8 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L	3/9	SYR4
Combined Uranium	6.4 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L	2/9	SYR4
Combined Radium (-226 And -228)	6.1 pCi/L 122% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 pCi/L	3/9	SYR4
Dibromochloromethane	2.5 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/9	SYR4
Toluene	1.8 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L	1/9	SYR4
Bromoform	0.5000 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/9	SYR4
Mercury	0.1110 µg/L 5.6% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L	1/9	SYR4
Lead	0.0510 mg/L 340% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L	3/9	LCR

Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a running annual average while the figure is the single worst sample on record — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Formal violations are listed separately. These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide average. A detection means the lab measured the substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.

Water suppliers serving Rochester

Supplier	Population served
ROCHESTER WATER DEPT	25,000
ACORN TERRACE	215
ROCHESTER CONSECUTIVE WTR SYS	171
PROFILE APARTMENTS	90
INN AT SECRETARIAT ESTATES	54
MEADOWBROOK VILLAGE	40
HEATH BROOK ESTATES	36
COUNTRY RIDGE MOBILE HOME PARK	35
GRANDVIEW ESTATES	30

Frequently asked questions about Rochester tap water

Is Rochester tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Rochester. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.

How many water suppliers serve Rochester?

9 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Rochester, New Hampshire to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Rochester's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Rochester include Fluoride, Copper, TTHM, Chloroform, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.

Where does this data come from?

Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.