New Hampshire Lead Service Line Replacement Programs
Who pays to replace lead service lines in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has no law we found that decides who pays for the private side of a lead service line, so each utility sets its own policy. New Hampshire water systems reported 233 lead and 2,085 galvanized lines to EPA (Q3 2026). We list 1 utilities here.
New Hampshire water systems reported 233 lead and 2,085 galvanized service lines that must be replaced (EPA, Q3 2026). Below: the state rule on who pays, and every New Hampshire utility with at least 500 such lines, a confirmed program, or a recent lead result above 10 ppb.
Federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (40 CFR 141 Subpart I)
This state has no law we found that decides who pays for the private side of a lead service line, so each utility sets its own policy. Under the federal rule, utilities must replace every lead line and galvanized line that needs it within ten years of November 1, 2027, but the rule does not make utilities pay for the owner's side. Federal infrastructure money passed through the state revolving fund can pay for it, so many utilities offer free or discounted replacement, especially for low-income owners.
Mandatory? No state owner mandate found; the federal rule requires most utilities to replace all lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines by 2037.
Funding: State Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (federal lead service line money).
For fiscal year 2026, EPA allotted $27,456,000 to New Hampshire for lead service line replacement through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and at least $13,453,440 of it must go out as grants or forgivable loans. Compare every state.
Water testing: New Hampshire's list of state-certified drinking water labs. All states.
Sources: epa.gov
| Utility | Lead | Galv. | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua Pennichuck Water Works | 0 | 870 | Not confirmed |
Compare: lead lines in every state · cities with the most lead pipes · systems over the lead action level · free programs in New Hampshire
New Hampshire water systems over the new lead action level
2 New Hampshire water systems reported a 90th-percentile lead result above 10 parts per billion, the action level that takes effect under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements in November 2027. Results above 15 ppb, the current action level, are in bold red. See every state.
| Water system | Population | Lead, 90th pct. (ppb) | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlestown Charlestown Water Works · Sullivan County | 2,850 | 19 | 2024-01 to 2024-06 |
| Greenville Greenville Water Dept · Hillsborough County | 1,100 | 110 | 2022-01 to 2024-12 |
Smaller New Hampshire water systems with lead lines
These systems reported fewer than 500 lead and galvanized lines, so they don't have their own page yet. The 30 with the most lines are shown, out of 57. If you're served by one, ask the utility about its replacement plan and use the state rule above.
| Water system | Lead | Galv. | Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claremont Claremont Water Dept · Sullivan County | 220 | 5 | 1,348 |
| Somersworth Somersworth Water Works · Strafford County | 0 | 191 | 2,240 |
| Concord Concord Water Dept · Merrimack County | 0 | 159 | 749 |
| Portsmouth Portsmouth Water Works · Rockingham County | 0 | 140 | 3,108 |
| Lebanon Lebanon Water Dept · Grafton County | 0 | 109 | 1,183 |
| Lancaster Lancaster Water Dept · Coos County | 0 | 82 | 1,070 |
| Farmington Farmington Water Dept · Strafford County | 0 | 70 | 1,008 |
| Laconia Laconia Water Works · Belknap County | 0 | 53 | 177 |
| Swanzey N Swanzey Water and Fire PRCT · Cheshire County | 0 | 38 | 70 |
| Littleton Littleton Water and Light · Grafton County | 0 | 34 | 239 |
| Hinsdale Hinsdale Water Dept/Downtown · Cheshire County | 0 | 29 | 354 |
| Newport Newport Water Works · Sullivan County | 0 | 25 | 1,494 |
| Rollinsford Rollinsford Water Sewer Dist · Strafford County | 2 | 21 | 516 |
| Conway North Conway Water PCT · Carroll County | 0 | 23 | 1,197 |
| Troy Troy Water Works · Cheshire County | 0 | 23 | 430 |
| Hillsborough Hillsborough Water Works · Hillsborough County | 0 | 22 | 301 |
| Newmarket Newmarket Water Works · Rockingham County | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Carroll Carroll Water Works · Coos County | 0 | 15 | 413 |
| Gorham Gorham Water and Sewer Dept · Coos County | 0 | 14 | 901 |
| Derry Derry Water Dept · Rockingham County | 0 | 14 | 3,050 |
| Franconia Franconia Village Water · Grafton County | 0 | 13 | 119 |
| Bristol Bristol Water Works · Grafton County | 10 | 2 | 1,177 |
| Gilford Lily Pond MHP · Belknap County | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Plymouth Plymouth VLG Water and Sewer · Grafton County | 0 | 9 | 362 |
| Aquarion Water/nh Aquarion Water/Nh · Rockingham County | 0 | 8 | 9,878 |
| Northumberland Groveton Water Sys · Coos County | 0 | 7 | 687 |
| Stratford North Stratford Water Dept · Coos County | 0 | 7 | 23 |
| Exeter Exeter Water Dept · Rockingham County | 0 | 6 | 1,732 |
| Peterborough Peterborough Water Works · Hillsborough County | 0 | 6 | 2,146 |
| Antrim Antrim Dpw/Utilities Div · Hillsborough County | 0 | 5 | 316 |
Common questions
Who pays to replace lead service lines in New Hampshire?
This state has no law we found that decides who pays for the private side of a lead service line, so each utility sets its own policy. Under the federal rule, utilities must replace every lead line and galvanized line that needs it within ten years of November 1, 2027, but the rule does not make utilities pay for the owner's side. Federal infrastructure money passed through the state revolving fund can pay for it, so many utilities offer free or discounted replacement, especially for low-income owners.
Is lead service line replacement mandatory in New Hampshire?
No state owner mandate found; the federal rule requires most utilities to replace all lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines by 2037.
How many lead service lines are in New Hampshire?
Water systems in New Hampshire reported 233 lead service lines, 2,085 galvanized lines that need replacement and 94,360 lines of unknown material to EPA (Q3 2026), across 72 reporting systems.
Where can I get help paying in New Hampshire?
Start with your water utility's program; the table on this page shows what we've confirmed. State money flows through: State Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (federal lead service line money). If your utility has no program, see our guide to paying for replacement.