What was found in Exeter'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 550 µg/L 5.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1910.4 µg/L — LOUISBURG CIRCLE · 55 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 280 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1523.5 µg/L — EXETER HIGHLANDS · 50 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 872.5 µg/L 8.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: PICKPOCKET WOODS · 26 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 166 µg/L 4.2% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 239.5 µg/L — EXETER RIVER MOBILE HOME PARK · 980 people · 2018 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 161.475 µg/L 202% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 121 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 64.7 µg/L 108% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 42.8 µg/L 285% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 40 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 13 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 30.9031 µg/L — FOREST RIDGE · 140 people · 2017 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 29.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 10 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.97 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.7 µg/L — EXETER RIVER MOBILE HOME PARK · 980 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 0.7780 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.62 µg/L — EXETER RIVER MOBILE HOME PARK · 980 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 2.88 pCi/L 19% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2016
Highest in the city: 4 pCi/L — EXETER RIVER MOBILE HOME PARK · 980 people · 2015 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.7 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: BEECH TREE COOPERATIVE · 70 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.695 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.51 pCi/L 30% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2016
Highest in the city: 2.2 pCi/L — EXETER RIVER MOBILE HOME PARK · 980 people · 2015 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.855 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.9 µg/L — BEECH TREE COOPERATIVE · 70 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.7000 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.37 µg/L — BEECH TREE COOPERATIVE · 70 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.4000 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2016
Highest in the city: 1 µg/L — EXETER HIGHLANDS · 50 people · 2015 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 0.5000 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0520 mg/L — EXETER HIGHLANDS · 50 people · 2010 | 4/8 | LCR |
| Pfba | 0.0130 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2024 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0060 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2024 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2024 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2024 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2024 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0030 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2024 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0030 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EXETER WATER DEPT · 12,236 people · 2024 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
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 Exeter
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| EXETER WATER DEPT | 12,236 |
| EXETER RIVER MOBILE HOME PARK | 980 |
| RIVER RUN | 411 |
| FOREST RIDGE | 140 |
| BEECH TREE COOPERATIVE | 70 |
| LOUISBURG CIRCLE | 55 |
| EXETER HIGHLANDS | 50 |
| PICKPOCKET WOODS | 26 |
Frequently asked questions about Exeter tap water
Is Exeter tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 32 contaminants in the water serving Exeter. 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 Exeter?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Exeter, New Hampshire to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Exeter's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Exeter include Nitrate, Copper, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, 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.