Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
MANCHESTER WATER WORKS
MANCHESTER WATER WORKS delivers tap water graded B (83/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 123,500 residents in MANCHESTER, New Hampshire using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline.
Is MANCHESTER tap water safe to drink?
MANCHESTER WATER WORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of B (83/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a good rating, with only minor concerns relative to health-based guidelines.
The utility serves 123,500 residents in MANCHESTER, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 3 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Chromium (hexavalent). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for MANCHESTER residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for MANCHESTER WATER WORKS.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 5.03 ppb, 84x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact MANCHESTER WATER WORKS
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for MANCHESTER
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 83/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
4.32 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
5.03 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 84× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0598 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.0× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
180.9 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
13.0 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.36 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.661 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.291 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0476 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
MANCHESTER WATER WORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for MANCHESTER water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.