Is Concord, NH Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Yes, Concord tap water is safe to drink. Hardness is low at 22 PPM, and no contaminants exceed health guidelines. Most homes here don't need treatment.
Hardness Scale: Where Concord Falls
0Slightly
60Moderate
120Hard
180Very Hard
250Extreme
400+
How Concord Compares
Concord's water is 84% softer than the national average of 138 PPM - ranking in the bottom 90% for hardness nationwide. Most homes here do not need a softener. Within New Hampshire, it ranks #4 of 6 cities (8% below the state average of 24 PPM). Among smaller cities, Concord ranks #246 of 288 for hardness.
What Concord's Water Means for Your Home
Hardness: 22 PPM - Low Concern
Concord's water is slightly hard at 22 PPM. Most households won't notice any issues at this level. Scale buildup is minimal, and a water softener would be overkill. Concord is softer than 90% of US cities. If you're thinking about water treatment, contaminant filtration is where to focus your money, not softening.
Contaminants & Safety
Beyond hardness, Concord's water is within EPA guidelines for regulated contaminants. Chlorine is relatively low at 0.5 mg/L. 2 contaminants exceed EWG's stricter health guidelines, though all are within legal limits.. Want the full picture? Request your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for neighborhood-level data.
What's in the Treatment Process
Concord's surface water supply requires heavy chlorination to stay safe — but that creates a tradeoff. The treatment process generates disinfection byproducts: HAA5 at 21.2 ppb (null% of the legal limit, but 353x the EWG guideline). These are within legal limits, but the EWG sets much tighter thresholds based on cancer-risk research. A whole-house activated carbon filter reduces both chlorine and byproducts. All measurements are within federal legal limits. The EWG guidelines represent a more conservative, health-based standard.
| Contaminant | Detected | Health Guideline | Legal Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness (as CaCO₃) | 22 PPM | < 60 PPM | No federal limit | ✓ OK |
| Total Dissolved Solids | 34 PPM | < 300 PPM | 500 PPM | ✓ OK |
| PFAS (total) | 0 ppt | — | No total limit | ✓ ND |
| ↳ PFOA | 0 ppt | 0 ppt | 4 ppt (2024) | ✓ OK |
| ↳ PFOS | 0 ppt | 0 ppt | 4 ppt (2024) | ✓ OK |
| Lead | 1 ppb | 0 ppb (no safe level) | 15 ppb (10 ppb in 2027) | ✓ Low |
| Chlorine / Chloramine | 0.5 mg/L | Taste threshold ~1.0 | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ Normal |
| Nitrate | Not reported | 5 mg/L | 10 mg/L | N/A |
Good news for Concord residents. Your water quality is generally good. Most homes in this area do not need a water softener. If you have concerns about lead (especially in buildings constructed before 1986) or chlorine taste, a point-of-use filter is the most practical and cost-effective solution.
How to Test Your Water in Concord
City-wide data is a solid starting point, but your specific tap might differ based on plumbing age, distance from the treatment plant, or seasonal changes.
Free option: Request Concord Water Department's annual Consumer Confidence Report for official city-level data.
📊 Already Tested Your Water?
City averages miss neighborhood-level variation. Share your results to help your neighbors get better data.
We review every submission before publishing. Your ZIP is shown; your identity is not.
About Concord's Water Supply
Water Utility: Concord Water Department
Water Source: Penacook Lake (Surface Water)
Population Served: 44,215
Hardness: 22 PPM (1.3 grains per gallon)
Concord's drinking water comes from surface sources — Penacook Lake. Surface water requires more extensive treatment than groundwater, including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. This heavier chlorination is why disinfection byproducts tend to be higher in surface-supplied systems. On the upside, surface sources often deliver softer water than deep aquifers. The system serves 44,000 residents.
Water quality can vary by neighborhood and season. For your exact numbers, request Concord Water Department's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or test your own tap.
ZIP Codes Covered by This Report
This water quality data applies to all areas served by Concord Water Department in Concord, NH, including ZIP codes:
03046, 03215, 03216, 03217, 03218, 03220, 03221, 03222, 03223, 03224, 03225, 03226, 03227, 03229, 03230, 03231, 03233, 03234, 03235, 03237, 03240, 03241, 03242, 03243, 03244, 03245, 03246, 03247, 03249, 03252, 03253, 03254, 03255, 03256, 03257, 03258, 03259, 03260, 03263, 03264, 03266, 03268, 03269, 03272, 03273, 03275, 03276, 03278, 03284, 03285, 03287, 03289, 03298, 03299, 03301, 03302, 03303, 03304, 03305, 03307, 03741, 03748, 03749, 03751, 03753, 03782, 03809, 03810, 03816, 03837, 03850, 03853, 03883, 03894, 03896, 03897
If your ZIP code is listed above, this report covers your water supply. Water quality may vary slightly by neighborhood.
Compare Concord to Other New Hampshire Cities
Frequently Asked Questions About Concord Water
Is Concord tap water safe to drink?
Where does Concord's water come from?
Do I need a water softener in Concord?
What are disinfection byproducts in Concord's water?
Can I drink Concord tap water straight from the faucet?
What water filter is best for Concord?
Data sources: Lead and copper data from EPA Safe Drinking Water Act LCR reporting. Contaminant data from utility-reported testing results. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025). Hardness from USGS and municipal reports. Data reflects system-level testing results and may not match your specific tap due to neighborhood plumbing, season, or recent utility changes. For your utility's latest results, request their Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Our methodology. Last updated: 2026-02-24.