Bedford residents still need better water quality.

Bedford, NH, is a small but thriving town in Hillsborough County that stands as one of the more affluent communities in the state. With a few higher education centers and colleges like Saint Anselm College, the town is known for its education standards, including highly rated public and private schools. From golf courses and fitness centers to various parks and outdoor recreation areas, it’s a great place to live with low crime and high safety ratings. Unfortunately, the past few years have been spotted with concerns about water quality. Let’s look at the water in Bedford and explore how its quality might impact the local residents.

Contaminants found in Bedford, NH water.

The town of Bedford is highly sensitive about the current PFAS/PFOS issues, due to the neighboring community of Merrimack. It has a complete webpage dedicated to educating the residents on the latest updates, resources, and potential health implications from the Saint Gobain spill.

Well Water and City Water Overview

If you live in the Bedford, NH area, you potentially get your water from a private well or a public source; there are a few things to know about the water supply. Public water is regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). They provide regular testing, ensuring the water meets federal and state standards. On the other hand, well water is the homeowner’s responsibility to get tested — so if you’re looking to move into a home on well water, testing the quality before you move in and every few years is essential.

Current Water Concerns for Well Water

The first concern regarding well-sourced drinking water is contamination by naturally occurring chemicals or bacteria. In some cases, these contaminants can be harmful if ingested over time. The most common pollutants in Bedford’s private well water include arsenic and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While these substances may not cause harm when consumed occasionally in very low doses, long-term ingestion can have adverse health effects, including organ damage and cancer.

Current Water Concerns for City Water

Due to the PFAS/PFOA problems surrounding the Saint Gobain area in Merrimack, you should have your water privately tested, whether it’s city or well water. This chemical is called the “forever chemical” because once it’s in the environment, it does not go away on its own — and while New Hampshire did lower the allowed level of PFAS in drinking water, it is still present in both city water and potentially well water.

Water Reporting from the EWG

Right now, some main concerns about Bedford water include the following —

  • The statewide problem with PFAS carcinogens that can cause liver, kidney, immune, reproductive, and overall physical harm.
  • City water contains additives for purification and a detectable level of PFOA (i.e., this Bedford water report).

While the town’s city water solutions do fall within legal limits, and they are continuing to improve the water quality, we know there’s a better and safer water solution to fix your water issues for good.

We love to look at is the Environmental Working Group’s baseline of water quality reporting — they do an excellent job analyzing and providing simple recommendations on “healthy” or “allowable” levels of each contaminant, along with how much is present in each zip code’s water supply. If you look at the EWG report and other water issues, you’ll find information for the following surrounding near-Bedford locations —

According to the EWG, a few specific contaminants are of concern for ongoing ingestion. With a range of findings, there are higher-than-recommended contaminants, varying by location. Here are some that are of note:

Bromodichloromethane and Chloroform

Formed when chlorine with disinfectants treat the water, these byproducts are a carcinogen that can impact fetuses during pregnancy. Learn more about Chlorine in Drinking Water.

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5 and HAA9)

These compounds are carcinogenic and can cause bladder cancer. Other potential effects include adverse developmental and reproductive issues and colorectal cancer.

PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid)

PFOA is called a forever chemical because it never dissolves into the environment. It can build up in the body and create issues like cancer, kidney and liver problems, respiratory disease, asthma, COPD, and cardiovascular disease.

If you live on well water, you may have issues with the following chemicals —

Nitrate

This compound can impact the blood’s ability to provide oxygen to cells, impacting mostly younger infants and pregnant women.

Chromium

This is a carcinogen that passes to drinking water through pollution as well as naturally-occurring minerals in groundwater.

Arsenic

Long-term exposure can cause skin lesions, cardiovascular issues, cancer, and diabetes. It also impacts cognitive development in growing humans, including in-utero, infants, and young adults.

NH Tap’s recommendations for clean water in Bedford.

Everyone should understand their local water standards and quality reports, whether they use well or city-supplied water in their homes. Here are the main concerns with traditional routes for water —

  • While many think bottled water is a safer alternative than tap water due to its production process and safety standards, studies have shown bottled water can be no cleaner than tap water when it comes to specific contaminants.
  • City water depends on adding chemicals to clean it — and better options exist!
  • Well water that doesn’t have a filtration system can be pumping chemicals into your home, absorbed through the skin as well as when used for cooking and drinking.

Bedford’s best public or well water filtration.

Staying current on testing results from both your local public works department as well as the city website, you will be able to make good decisions on how to best protect your family from potential contaminants in your drinking supply—whether you get your water from a local well system or through city-supplied taps!

Among all the concerns in Bedford and New Hampshire water in general, NH Tap developed whole-home filtration systems for both city and well water sources to remove common NH water contaminants, including PFAS. Our long-lasting, single-tank units can remove chlorine, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, PCBs, and more — helping you source the absolute purest water for your home. We understand the water issues and are committed to providing absolutely pure drinking water to all NH residents at an incredible price.

NH Tap has been able to tailor our filtration media to remove the contaminants shown to exist in Bedford’s public water and private water, so you get truly pure drinking water. We offer free filter installation, a 5-year warranty (including parts and labor), and lifetime support.

Schedule a Water Test To Find Out If You Have Contaminants in Your Water

Understanding the current state of your local city and well water in Bedford is essential to ensure you have safe drinking water in your home or business. NH Tap can provide a range of tests (some for free) to check the precise levels of contamination, letting us know what filtration unit will best serve you.

Getting the cleanest water starts with scheduling your water test. Take control of your future and your health by taking the first step!

Whether you have well water or use city water, NH Tap can provide you with peace of mind and incredible clean water. Our Whole House Water Filtration System is customized to order with the correct media mix to remove chlorine, cast iron, chromium, and any other chemicals that may exist in Bedford’s tap water — enjoy only the purest water on every faucet and appliance in your home!