Cheshire County, New Hampshire — public water systems

How does Cheshire County compare with other New Hampshire counties?

Cheshire County has the 7th-most active public water systems among the 15 counties listed for active New Hampshire systems in EPA records; among the 10 with 3 or more systems, the median has 250. Its systems report 69,037 people served in total, the 8th-largest county figure in the state and 5.5% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 409 people, about 20% below the New Hampshire average of 508. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Cheshire County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Cheshire County's active systems draw on groundwater (166, 98%), surface water (2, 1.2%) and purchased surface water (1, 0.6%). Overall, 98% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 1.8% on surface water, compared with 97% and 2.7% across New Hampshire. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Keene Water Dept, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Cheshire County?

Cheshire County's active systems break down as 34 community systems (20%), 40 non-transient non-community systems (24%) and 95 transient non-community systems (56%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (76%), local government (22%), federal government (1.2%) and state government (0.6%).