Overview
Updated data blocked by New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has refused to release the latest drinking water test data sought by EWG through a public records request. Rather than supplying the data, the department provided a link to a website containing PDFs that were difficult to use. Although the state maintains its own database of water system test results, it has declined to export the data.
In past updates to EWG’s national Tap Water Database, New Hampshire shared these results. But it is the only state to block access to such data this time, depriving those who rely on public water systems from critical information.
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (April 2024 - June 2024), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Legal does not necessarily equal safe.
Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.
Contaminants Detected
N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA)
Potential Effect:
This Utility: 4.99 ppt
No Legal Limit
5x
EWG's Health Guideline: 1 ppt
N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA)
N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. N-EtFOSAA and other perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.
N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) was found at 5 times above EWG's Health Guideline.
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
National Average
State Average
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for N-EtFOSAA was defined by EWG as based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS most widely detected in drinking water.
Understanding the Data
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2018-2024.
ppt = parts per trillionPollution Sources
Industry
Runoff & Sprawl
Filtering Options
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)
Potential Effect:
This Utility: 4.80 ppt
No Legal Limit
4.8x
EWG's Health Guideline: 1 ppt
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. NMeFOSAA and other perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) was found at 4.8 times above EWG's Health Guideline.
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
National Average
State Average
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for NMeFOSAA was defined by EWG as based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS most widely detected in drinking water.
Understanding the Data
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2018-2024.
ppt = parts per trillionPollution Sources
Industry
Runoff & Sprawl
Filtering Options
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Includes chemicals detected in 2021-2023 for which annual utility averages exceeded an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority.
Other Contaminants Tested
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| CONTAMINANTS ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | activated carbon | reverse osmosis | ion exchange |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) | |||
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid |
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