Well Water in Litchfield, New Hampshire
Hillsborough County · Population ~8,500 · Aquifer: Glacial Till / Bedrock
Hardness: Moderate
Litchfield is a small, largely residential town where most homes rely on private wells. The town is within the Saint-Gobain PFAS contamination zone, and many wells have been tested and found to exceed New Hampshire's strict PFAS standards. Combined with the natural arsenic and radon common to NH bedrock, Litchfield well owners need to test comprehensively.
PFAS: Within the Contamination Zone
Litchfield borders Merrimack and sits squarely within the Saint-Gobain PFAS contamination plume. NH DES has conducted extensive well testing in Litchfield, and many homes have received bottled water or whole-house treatment systems funded by the state's remediation program.
If your well hasn't been tested for PFAS, contact NH DES. Testing is free for wells within the investigation area. Even wells that tested below limits years ago should be retested — contamination plumes shift over time.
Natural Contaminants
Beyond the industrial PFAS contamination, Litchfield wells face the same natural contaminants as the rest of southeastern NH:
- Arsenic — from granitic bedrock. Test at least once. See our arsenic guide.
- Radon — dissolved from granite into groundwater. See our radon guide.
- Manganese — common in NH groundwater, causes staining and taste issues
What to Do
Test for PFAS (contact NH DES for free testing if in the investigation area), arsenic, radon, bacteria, nitrates, manganese, pH, and hardness.
If treatment is needed, NH offers rebates of $5,000-$10,000 for treatment systems. See our testing guide for labs and our resources page for treatment companies.
NH Treatment Rebates: If your well water exceeds any health-based standards, you may be eligible for $5,000-$10,000 in state rebates toward a treatment system. Check your eligibility.
Every well is different. Two wells on the same street can produce completely different water. The data on this page reflects documented conditions in the Litchfield area, but the only way to know what's in your water is to test it.
Sources
- NH DES — Saint-Gobain PFAS Investigation: Litchfield
- NH Geological Survey — Bedrock Geology of Southern NH
- NH DES — Private Well Water Quality Data