01The verdict: is Unity water safe?
Unity's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (86.4/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 625 residents using groundwater (wells).
13 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Top half in New Hampshire
Unity ranks #16 of 98 graded New Hampshire cities.
See the comparison ↓A flood-prone service area
10 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Unity's drinking water received a grade of A- (86.4 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 625 residents using groundwater.
Lead data is not currently available for this system. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 89 violations on record, including 3 health-based violations. 13 remain unresolved.
Unity ranks #16 out of 98 cities in New Hampshire for water quality, placing it above average in the state. Unity relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. As a small community water system, Unity may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Unity's water
Every contaminant flagged in Unity, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
No contaminants were measured above screening thresholds in the most recent EPA sampling data for this system. The full testing table below lists everything checked.
Full contaminants report
No contaminant data available for this city.
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in New Hampshire
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in New Hampshire
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Unity's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 89 violations on record, including 3 health-based violations. 13 remain unresolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Unity.
04Where Unity's water comes from
Unity's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
625 people
Residents served across Unity's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 625 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SULLIVAN COUNTY COMPLEX | NH2384010 | 625 | Groundwater |
Water bodies near Unity
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Unity's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
10 federal disaster declarations on record for Sullivan County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Unity compares
Scores for nearby New Hampshire cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = New Hampshire average (66/100)
Unity scores 86.4/100 — above the New Hampshire average of 66/100. It outscores 8 of 10 nearby cities. Full New Hampshire rankings →
50.9 / 100ANashua, NH
88.7 / 100DConcord, NH
51.3 / 100BPortsmouth, NH
80.7 / 100AKeene, NH
89.2 / 100BDover, NH
84 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Unity's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Unity's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Unity alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Unity, NH tap water safe to drink?
Unity's water quality earned a grade of A- (86.4/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #16 out of 98 cities tested in New Hampshire.
What contaminants are in Unity's water?
89 violations are on record.
How is Unity's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Unity?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Unity's water come from?
Unity's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 625 residents.
What health violations has Unity's water system had?
Unity has 3 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2012. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 13 violations remain unresolved.
Is Unity's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Unity uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 89 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Unity's water compare to other cities?
Unity ranks #16 out of 98 cities in New Hampshire (better than 84% of state cities) and #4707 out of 15382 cities nationally (69th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Unity's small water system affect quality?
Unity's system serves approximately 625 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 89 violations on record.