Hardness
Moderately Hard
66.6 PPM · 3.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Rochester, NH 03868
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Strafford County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Rochester Water Dept
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Strafford County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
9 systems
Serves 25,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
66.6 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
66.6
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
3.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 66.6 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
44
Nearest site
23.6 mi
Observation range
Jan 10, 2016–Jun 8, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: LAMPREY RIVER AT LANGFORD ROAD, AT RAYMOND, NH (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 03868 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Rochester median
67 PPM
About the same3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 66.6–66.7 PPM
New Hampshire median
58 PPM
9 PPM higher90 indexed ZIP readings · Range 16–102 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.007
EPA limit 0.006
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.061
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 24
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NH2002040 | Resolved | Nov 12, 2024through Dec 9, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NH2002020 | Resolved | Oct 24, 2024through Jan 3, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NH2002020 | Resolved | Oct 24, 2024through Jan 3, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NH2002040 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Nov 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NH2002020 | Resolved | Sep 13, 2024through Oct 2, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NH2002020 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Sep 1, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NH2002020 | Resolved | Apr 22, 2024through Jun 24, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NH2002020 | Resolved | Apr 22, 2024through Jun 24, 2024 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalateHealth-basedReported 0.007 MG/L · MCL 0.006 | NH2001020 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NH2002020 | Resolved | Mar 12, 2024through Jun 24, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NH2002020 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2024through Mar 1, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NH2002020 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jun 24, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NH2001020 | Resolved | Sep 12, 2023through Oct 30, 2023 |
| E. COLI | NH2003090 | Resolved | Aug 19, 2023through Sep 21, 2023 |
| Public Notice | NH2002020 | Resolved | Jul 4, 2023through Aug 14, 2023 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NH2002020 | Resolved | Apr 29, 2023through Sep 7, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NH2003090 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Jul 21, 2022 |
| E. COLI | NH2003020 | Resolved | May 11, 2022through Jun 13, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NH2003090 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through May 10, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.061 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | NH2001010 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Rochester ZIP 03868 using 66.6 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) have a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Rochester
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Rochester
Is tap water safe in Rochester?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 66.6 PPM, or 3.9 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.