What was found in Bow's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 819 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1390 µg/L — BELLA BROOK WATER · 50 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 1100 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: EVERGREEN DRIVE WATER · 80 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 579.5 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 609.5 µg/L — EVERGREEN DRIVE WATER · 80 people · 2018 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 44.45 µg/L 445% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 67.35 µg/L — BELLA BROOK WATER · 50 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 0.7300 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 44.71 µg/L — BOW MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM · 150 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 25.95 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 38 µg/L — BOW MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM · 150 people · 2018 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 26.3 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BELLA BROOK WATER · 50 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 22.4 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: WHITE ROCK SENIOR LIVING · 120 people · 2018 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.9750 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 20.7 µg/L — BOW MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM · 150 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 0.6950 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.15 µg/L — BOW MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM · 150 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BOW MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM · 150 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 10.55 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 2017 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 7.5 pCi/L 50% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: STONE SLED FARM · 113 people · 2017 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 6.6 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: BELLA BROOK WATER · 50 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 0.7300 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.46 µg/L — BOW MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM · 150 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 4.1 µg/L 4.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: STONE SLED FARM · 113 people · 2018 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.6 pCi/L 32% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 3.9 pCi/L — STONE SLED FARM · 113 people · 2017 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.82 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BOW MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM · 150 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 3.82 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Highest in the city: BOW MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM · 150 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.1600 mg/L 1067% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER · 238 people · 1993 | 3/7 | 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 95th percentile of the
system's samples — 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 Bow
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ABENAKI WATER/WHITE ROCK WATER | 238 |
| BOW MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM | 150 |
| WHITE ROCK SENIOR LIVING | 120 |
| STONE SLED FARM | 113 |
| EVERGREEN DRIVE WATER | 80 |
| COTTAGES AT WINDCHIMES | 75 |
| BELLA BROOK WATER | 50 |
Frequently asked questions about Bow tap water
Is Bow tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Bow. 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 Bow?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Bow, New Hampshire to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Bow's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Bow include Fluoride, Nitrate, Copper, Arsenic, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier 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.