Strafford County, New Hampshire: drinking water report. Strafford County in southeastern New Hampshire has about 131,000 residents in communities including…
Strafford County in southeastern New Hampshire has about 131,000 residents in communities including Dover, Rochester, and Durham (home to the University of New Hampshire). Water sources include the Cocheco River, Willand Pond, and groundwater wells from fractured bedrock and stratified drift aquifers. The former Pease Air Force Base, now the Pease International Tradeport in neighboring Rockingham County, has had a profound impact on regional water quality.
Pease AFB is one of the most studied PFAS contamination sites in the country. According to the NH DES's 2024 PFAS report, the contamination plume from the former base extends into Strafford County through groundwater pathways. The Haven well in Dover was shut down after PFAS was detected above the state's 12 ppt standard for PFOA, and the city had to develop alternative supply sources.
New Hampshire's strict PFAS standards have pushed detection and response further than most states. A 2024 NH DES compliance report found that four public water systems in Strafford County required treatment upgrades or well closures to meet the state's limits. Naturally occurring arsenic in bedrock wells adds another concern – 15% of wells in the county's granite zones exceed the 10 ppb MCL.
Strafford County's proximity to Pease AFB means PFAS is a real, not hypothetical, concern. New Hampshire's aggressive testing program means contamination is identified early, but treatment falls to utilities and well owners.
Check your water for data at your address. For PFAS and arsenic – both common in this area – reverse osmosis handles both. Our water filter guide covers systems proven for New Hampshire conditions. Pull your detailed report for local data, and visit our New Hampshire page for statewide patterns.