Short answer: In the 2023–2024 records we hold for Portsmouth, two PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, each had a sample above a 2024 EPA limit (not a violation: the limits are judged on a yearly average, due 2029). 3 more are detected with no federal limit, and everything else measured is within its reference or not detected. 9 substances were detected and 22 were tested and not detected. The water is from Portsmouth Water Works, serving 33,000 residents.
2 water systems report serving Portsmouth. This report uses the largest, PORTSMOUTH WATER WORKS. Your water bill names your actual supplier. Source: EPA SDWIS 2026Q2.
Surface water
The treatment details are not on record.
Mains, then your building’s service line.
Plumbing inside the building is outside this record.
Two PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, each had a sample above a 2024 EPA limit (not a violation: the limits are judged on a yearly average, due 2029); 3 more are detected with no federal limit, and everything else measured is within its reference or not detected.
7 ng/L, sampled 2023-07-18 to 2024-05-10. EPA UCMR 5.
4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024): a legal limit. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation. EPA health goal (MCLG): 0.
One EPA sample measured 7 ng/L, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 (PFOA/PFOS)).
5 ng/L, sampled 2023-07-18 to 2024-05-10. EPA UCMR 5.
4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024): a legal limit. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation. EPA health goal (MCLG): 0.
One EPA sample measured 5 ng/L, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 (PFOA/PFOS)).
10 µg/L, sampled 2023-07-18 to 2024-05-10. EPA UCMR 5.
10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit).
Detected at up to 10 µg/L (below the 10 µg/L EPA health reference level; a screening level, not a legal limit).
Where it enters is not in this record.
Test your own tap first: a certified lab result shows what reaches your glass.
5 ng/L, sampled 2023-07-18 to 2024-05-10. EPA UCMR 5.
10 ng/L federal MCL (2024): a legal limit. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it.
Detected at up to 5 ng/L (below the 10 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024). That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHxS named on the listing).
9 ng/L, sampled 2023-07-18 to 2024-05-10. EPA UCMR 5.
2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit).
Detected at up to 9.0 ng/L (below the 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory; a screening level, not a legal limit).
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFBS named on the listing).
6 ng/L, sampled 2023-07-18 to 2024-05-10. EPA UCMR 5.
400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state): a state limit.
Detected at up to 6.0 ng/L (below the 400,000 ng/L historical comparison reference).
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHxA named on the listing).
5 ng/L, sampled 2023-07-18 to 2024-05-10. EPA UCMR 5.
No federal limit is on record for it.
Detected at up to 5.0 ng/L. No federal or state limit exists for this substance; shown for transparency, not graded.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFBA named on the listing).
3 ng/L, sampled 2023-07-18 to 2024-05-10. EPA UCMR 5.
No federal limit is on record for it.
Detected at up to 3.0 ng/L. No federal or state limit exists for this substance; shown for transparency, not graded.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHpA named on the listing).
7 ng/L, sampled 2023-07-18 to 2024-05-10. EPA UCMR 5.
No federal limit is on record for it.
Detected at up to 7.0 ng/L. No federal or state limit exists for this substance; shown for transparency, not graded.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFPeA named on the listing).
PORTSMOUTH WATER WORKS (EPA PWSID NH1951010) delivers surface water to 33,000 residents. This report reflects 29 individual PFAS result(s) from the source UCMR5 observations and the latest Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile result. Water hardness and disinfectant type are pending the utility's own annual report.
0health-based violations in the last 10 years
From EPA SDWIS. A clean violation history means no enforcement action was recorded; it does not cover contaminants without a limit.
No result is not a pass. Your utility's annual water quality report may list them, and a certified lab test covers your own tap.
The record describes water leaving treatment and samples across the system. Pipes, solder and fixtures inside a building can add lead the record can’t see, especially in older buildings with lead service lines.
Test your waterMeasured in this report
Sampled across the system
Not in this record
Only a tap test measures it
Know what comes from your tap, starting with a first-draw lead sample.
Compare each result with its named reference in our test reader.
Choose a technology certified for what your test found.
Screening tells you if something is worth a closer look; a lab result is the number you can act on.
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Lab-certified results
ETR Laboratories
50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria
What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.
Screening: quick check, not lab-grade
Safe Home (EnviroTestKits)
Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb
What it can't tell you: It shows a lead range, not an exact level, and tests nothing else unless you pay extra for the optional lab test.
When your results arrive, read them here → · Compare every kit we list
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services certifies the labs that test drinking water in New Hampshire. Find a certified lab in New Hampshire ↗ · What lab tests cost →
| Finding | Reference type | Technology | Certification to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)7 ng/L | Federal MCL | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 (PFOA/PFOS) |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)5 ng/L | Federal MCL | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 (PFOA/PFOS) |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)5 ng/L | Federal MCL | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHxS named on the listing |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)9 ng/L | Screening level | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFBS named on the listing |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)6 ng/L | State limit | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHxA named on the listing |
| Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)5 ng/L | No federal limit | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFBA named on the listing |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)3 ng/L | No federal limit | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHpA named on the listing |
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)7 ng/L | No federal limit | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFPeA named on the listing |
| Galvanized service lines140 galvanized on record (EPA inventory, 2026Q2) | Not a tap measurement | Lead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosis | NSF/ANSI 53 (lead) |
★ Best choice: Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200), certified for PFOA, PFOS and lead.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200) | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Portsmouth’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100) | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Portsmouth’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000) | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Portsmouth’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M) | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Portsmouth’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2) | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Portsmouth’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopPatriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Portsmouth’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Portsmouth’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOA, PFOS and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA and PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and PFOS, found in Portsmouth’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
Also: lead picks →
PurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Lead service lines
Portsmouth Water Works reported 140 galvanized service lines to replace in EPA’s inventory (2026Q2). Many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost. Ask Portsmouth Water Works whether your home’s line is on its list before you pay anyone.
Older buildings may have lead service lines, solder or fixtures. Portsmouth’s utility reported 140 galvanized service lines in EPA’s inventory. Test first-draw water, then filter if needed.
8 of 29 PFAS tested were detected in Portsmouth’s record (PFOA 7 ng/L, PFOS 5 ng/L and PFHxS 5 ng/L, and more); 2 above their limit. If PFAS matters to you, a filter certification names each compound it covers.
Most utilities keep chlorine or chloramine in the pipes. A carbon filter certified for taste and odor reduces either; your utility can tell you which it uses.
Your utility’s annual water quality report usually lists hardness; a test strip also measures it.
Reverse osmosis reduces many dissolved contaminants, including lead and minerals, at a single faucet, with some water sent to drain.
Get an alert when Portsmouth’s record changes.
An email when a new sampling round is published, a result moves above or below its reference, or the system's score changes.Double opt-in: we email a confirmation link. You'll also get a short welcome series and the PurityMap digest. Unsubscribe anytime.
PurityMap does not give a safe/unsafe verdict; it shows what the public records measured. For Portsmouth, PFOA 7 ng/L and PFOS 5 ng/L were measured in one EPA sample each, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024 (not a violation: the limits are judged on a yearly average, due 2029). PORTSMOUTH WATER WORKS (PWSID NH1951010) has a Purity Score of 63/100 (confidence: moderate), assessed at the water-system level and computed only from contaminants that were measured. Water can change in your own pipes, so a certified test is the only way to know what comes out of your tap. What we found →
PORTSMOUTH WATER WORKS (PWS ID NH1951010) is the public water system on record for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, serving about 33,000 people. Confirm the utility on your water bill before acting on a specific finding. Water utility →
Surface water (primary source of record in EPA SDWIS). Water utility →
Yes. In EPA's UCMR 5 testing (2023-07-18 to 2024-05-10), PFOA was measured at 7 ng/L in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024 and PFOS was measured at 5 ng/L in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024. EPA's 2024 limits are judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet them, so a single sample is not a violation. PFBS (9 ng/L, below the 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory), PFHxA (6 ng/L, below the 400,000 ng/L state limit) and PFHxS (5 ng/L, below the 10 ng/L federal limit) were also detected. PFBA (5 ng/L), PFHpA (3 ng/L) and PFPeA (7 ng/L) were also detected; they have no federal or state limit. Reverse osmosis and filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA/PFOS reduce them at the tap. What we found →
Lead is not in Portsmouth's current published record. Lead usually enters from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so a certified home test is the way to know yours. Your household →
PurityMap's current record for Portsmouth holds 31 findings: 2 above a reference, 4 detected within the reference, 3 detected with no limit and 22 not detected. Each finding links to its dated public record; a parameter that was never monitored is shown as pending, not as a pass. Records →
| Contaminant | Measured | Reference | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | 7 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) | 5 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Lithium | 10 µg/L | 10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) | 5 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) | 9 ng/L | 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | 6 ng/L | 400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) | 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) | 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | 7 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS) | < 5 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS) | < 5 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) | < 5 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS) | < 2 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals) | < 5 ng/L (not detected) | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Lead (90th percentile) | Not detected | 15 µg/L federal action level | 2024 | EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule) ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA) | < 5 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) | < 6 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA) | < 20 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA) | < 4 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | < 4 ng/L (not detected) | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS) | < 4 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) | < 8 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) | < 7 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) | < 2 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
UCMR5 Analytical Results
UCMR5 Analytical Results: PORTSMOUTH WATER WORKS (NH1951010)
US EPA
State SDWIS Compliance Record
Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: PORTSMOUTH WATER WORKS (NH1951010)
US EPA SDWIS
Methodology: how we analyze water. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the PurityMap Editorial Team before publication.
EPA SDWIS, EPA UCMR 5 and utility reports, each dated and linked.
Units converted to one basis; a non-detect kept distinct from zero.
Each result tagged by reference type: MCL, action level, screening level or aesthetic.
Every value sits against its own reference, never a blended one.
Measured subjects summarised at the water-system level; an open health-based violation caps the score.
Treatment is matched to what was found; a product is called certified only when its current certification names it.
What the Purity Score means: a summary of this water system’s published record, capped while a health-based violation is open. It is not a test of any tap. PORTSMOUTH WATER WORKS · PWSID NH1951010 · Purity Score 63/100 (Fair) · Confidence: moderate · Assessed at the water-system level
Full methodology →Start with the hot-or-cold tap check. Where Portsmouth Water Works reported something related, it's shown below.
Lead at Portsmouth Water Works: not detected (90th percentile, 2024 monitoring period). Lead has no taste, so a taste neither shows nor rules it out.