PFAS in New Hampshire Well Water

New Hampshire has some of the strictest PFAS standards in the nation — and some of the worst PFAS contamination. 27% of tested wells near contamination sites exceed state standards.

NH's PFAS Standards

New Hampshire adopted PFAS standards in 2019 that are significantly stricter than the EPA's:

Compound	NH Standard (ppt)	Former EPA Guideline (ppt)
PFOA	12	70
PFOS	15	70
PFHxS	18	No standard
PFNA	11	No standard

These standards matter. A well that's "safe" by older EPA guidelines may violate NH standards by a wide margin. "Does my well meet NH standards?" is a different — and more protective — question than "Does my well meet EPA standards?"

Major Contamination Sites

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics — Merrimack

The largest PFAS contamination event in New Hampshire. Saint-Gobain has operated a plastics manufacturing facility in Merrimack since 1985, using PFAS compounds in the production process. Air emissions deposited PFAS over a wide area, which then contaminated groundwater.

The contamination plume affects wells in Merrimack, Bedford, and Litchfield. Thousands of wells have been tested, and hundreds of homes have received state-funded treatment systems or bottled water.

Pease International Tradeport — Portsmouth

The former Pease Air Force Base used AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) containing PFAS for firefighting training for decades. In 2014, PFAS was discovered in the Haven well at the tradeport at levels exceeding 2,000 ppt — one of the first major military PFAS discoveries in the nation.

A CDC/ATSDR health study of exposed individuals is ongoing. Private wells in Greenland, Newington, and Rye are being monitored.

Other Sites

PFAS contamination in NH is not limited to these two sites. NH DES has identified multiple additional investigation areas across the state, including:

• Other military and former military sites
• Fire training facilities
• Landfills where PFAS-containing products were disposed
• Industrial facilities that used PFAS in manufacturing

Health Effects

PFAS exposure has been linked to:

• Cancer — kidney and testicular cancer in particular
• Thyroid disease
• Immune system suppression — reduced vaccine effectiveness
• Reproductive issues — pregnancy complications, reduced fertility
• Elevated cholesterol
• Liver damage

Because PFAS accumulate in the body over time, even low-level chronic exposure is concerning. This is why NH adopted strict standards.

Testing for PFAS

PFAS testing is more expensive than standard water tests — typically $200-$400 for a comprehensive PFAS panel at a certified lab. However:

• Free testing is available for wells within NH DES investigation areas (Saint-Gobain, Pease, and others)
• Contact NH DES to find out if your well qualifies for free testing
• PFAS testing requires special sample collection procedures — the lab will provide a kit

See our testing guide for labs that perform PFAS analysis.

Treatment

PFAS can be removed from drinking water. The most effective options:

Treatment	PFAS Removal	Notes
Granular activated carbon (GAC)	Effective for most PFAS	Whole-house or point-of-use. Carbon needs periodic replacement.
Reverse osmosis	90-99% removal	Point-of-use (kitchen sink) is most common. Also removes arsenic.
Ion exchange resin	Highly effective	Newer technology, increasingly available for residential use.

Standard water softeners do NOT remove PFAS. Carbon block filters (like Brita) remove some PFAS but not reliably to the strict NH standards.