Drinking Water Info for Private Well Owners

This page provides useful links on water supply well construction and drinking water quality for private well owners.  Public Water Systems are regulated by the NHDES. Contact the NHDES Drinking Water Bureau for technical assistance on water quality at PWSs - Public Water Systems | NH Department of Environmental Services.

NHDES Private Wells, General Webpage - Private Wells | NH Department of Environmental Services

FACT SHEET: New Hampshire resources for radon testing in private wells; free radon air testing kits available for New Hampshire residents; and PFAS remediation grants for private well owners. 

WATER QUALITY INFORMATION - what to test for, where to deliver samples, and how to interpret results:

For the convenience of residents, the Stratham Building and Planning Office has bottle kits available from Absolute Resource Associates in Portsmouth. The "Private Well Users Test" includes Arsenic, Bacteria, Chloride, Copper, Fluoride, Hardness, Iron, Lead, Manganese, Nitrate, Nitrite, Sodium and Uranium. The lab charges $180 to analyze the samples.  Residents deliver the samples directly to Absolute Resource.  Additional parameters and sample bottles can be obtained directly from Absolute Resource or from other labs (see NHDES accredited lab list below).

• NHDES Private Well Testing Brochure - well-testing.pdf (nh.gov)
• NHDES Fact Sheet: Suggested Water Quality Testing for Private Wells - WD-DWGB-2-1 Suggested Water Testing for Private Wells (nh.gov)
• USEPA Guide to Water Quality Testing for Private Wells in NH - Protect Your Family - Test Your Well's Water Quality Today (epa.gov)
• NHDES Water Quality Laboratories - NH Accredited Labs That Complete DES Recommended Testing for Private (Domestic) Water Wells
• Protect your Drinking Water - NHDES Brochure "Got Clean Drinking Water?"

Common Contaminants in New Hampshire:

The Be Well Informed Guide from NHDES is designed to help you understand your water test results and, if your well water has commonly found pollutants in it, provide information about health concerns and water treatment choices.  NHDES Be Well Informed - Welcome (state.nh.us)

• NHDES Fact Sheet: Arsenic in New Hampshire Well Water - WD DWGB-3-2 Arsenic in New Hampshire Well Water (nh.gov)
• NHDES Fact Sheet: Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water - WD dwgb-4-1 Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water (nh.gov)
• NHDES Fact Sheet: Manganese Health Information Summary - ARD-EHP-15 Manganese Fact Sheet (nh.gov)
• NHDES Fact Sheet: Nitrate/Nitrite in Drinking Water - WD DWGB-3-9 Nitrate and Nitrite in Drinking Water (nh.gov)
• NHDES Fact Sheet: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in New Hampshire Well Water - DWGB-3-25 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in New Hampshire Well Water (nh.gov)
• NHDES Fact Sheet: Radionuclides in New Hampshire Well Water - WD-dwgb-3-11 Radionuclides in Drinking Water (nh.gov)

Well Construction Information:

• NHDES Fact Sheet: Overview of Water Supply Sources (where does drinking water come from?) - WD-DWGB-1-1 Overview of Water Supply Sources (nh.gov)
• NHDES Water Well Inventory (find your well here!) - Water Well Inventory | NH Department of Environmental Services
• NHDES Water Well Contractors and Pump Installers - Water Well Contractors and Pump Installers (state.nh.us)
• NHDES Fact Sheet: Disposal of Water Treatment Backwash WD-DWGB 22-17 Disposal of Water Treatment Backwash at Single Family or Duplex Residences (nh.gov)