Rochester, Strafford County
Well Water Treatment in Rochester, New Hampshire
Rochester is one of the larger Strafford County cities, and its outlying homes sit in the southeastern New Hampshire arsenic belt. A licensed local contractor can test your well and recommend the right system. Start with a free in-home water test and quote.
Why Rochester wells carry these contaminants
Rochester is the sixth-largest city in New Hampshire, with about 32,500 residents along the Cocheco and Salmon Falls rivers in Strafford County. Its older neighborhoods, including the Gonic and East Rochester villages, are largely on public water, while many homes in the outlying and rural areas draw from private bedrock wells.
Those rural wells sit in the southeastern New Hampshire arsenic belt. A USGS study of private bedrock wells in the region found that about 21 percent of wells in Hillsborough and Strafford counties exceeded the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter, a higher rate than the state overall.
New Hampshire's enforceable arsenic standard is 5 parts per billion, half the federal limit, and private wells are not tested by any agency. For a Rochester-area well owner, that combination makes testing the clear first step.
Around Rochester
- Cocheco River
- Salmon Falls River
- Gonic
- East Rochester
- Downtown Rochester
Water treatment services available in Rochester
These services are provided by the licensed local contractor you are matched with, sized to your Rochester well and your home.
Arsenic Treatment
The highest-intent concern on New Hampshire bedrock wells. A licensed contractor sizes a system to your water and the arsenic species present.
Learn moreUranium Treatment
Naturally occurring uranium turns up in parts of New Hampshire bedrock. A contractor typically addresses it with anion exchange or reverse osmosis.
Learn moreRadon in Water Treatment
Waterborne radon is distinct from airborne radon. On bedrock wells a contractor reduces it with aeration or activated carbon.
Learn moreIron and Manganese Treatment
Iron and manganese cause staining, taste, odor, and buildup. Treatment is often bundled with an arsenic or uranium system.
Learn moreWhole-House Water Treatment
Point-of-entry systems treat the water entering the whole home. This is the route to weigh when more than one contaminant is present.
Learn moreReverse Osmosis Systems
Point-of-use drinking-water systems at the kitchen tap, often paired with a whole-house system for the rest of the home.
Learn moreCommon well water issues in the Rochester area
Around Rochester, arsenic leads, frequently accompanied by iron and manganese that cause staining and by uranium and radon from the bedrock. A contractor pays particular attention to the arsenic result, since rates here run above the statewide average, and to whether the arsenic species calls for a pre-oxidation step.
How to test and treat your Rochester well
Testing is straightforward. You can send a sample to a New Hampshire accredited laboratory, order a test kit, or have the licensed local contractor we connect you with run a free in-home test. NHDES recommends a standard analysis every three to five years, with bacteria and nitrate tested yearly.
If you are buying or selling a Rochester home, water comes up at the closing table. New Hampshire requires sellers of one-to-four-family homes to disclose details about the private water supply, including the date of the most recent water test, and a separate state notification reminds buyers that radon and arsenic can occur in New Hampshire well water and that testing is recommended.
The treatment path is the same three steps everywhere we work: request a free in-home test, the contractor tests your Rochester water and reviews the results with you, and you receive a written, itemized quote with no obligation.
Nearby areas we serve
See all areas we serveRochester well water questions
My Rochester home is on city water. Does this apply?
This service is for homes on private wells. Much of Rochester is on public water, but outlying and rural homes often have private wells. If your home draws from a well, a test is the way to know your arsenic level.
Is arsenic a real concern near Rochester?
Yes. A USGS study found that about 21 percent of private bedrock wells in Hillsborough and Strafford counties exceeded the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter, a higher rate than the state as a whole.
How do I get a Rochester well tested?
Use a New Hampshire accredited laboratory or request a free in-home test from the licensed local contractor we connect you with. NHDES recommends a standard analysis every three to five years.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Rochester, New Hampshire
- USGS, Arsenic in Private Bedrock Wells in Southeastern New Hampshire (FS-051-03)
- NHDES, Private Wells
- NHDES, Suggested Water Quality Testing for Private Wells (DWGB-2-1)
- New Hampshire RSA 477:4-d (private water supply disclosure)
- New Hampshire RSA 477:4-a (radon, arsenic, and lead notification)
Get your Rochester well tested
A licensed local contractor will test your water, explain the results, and give you a written quote. No obligation.