Gorham, NH Water Safety: 70/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Gorham, EPA monitoring data shows low violation rates and healthy safety margins — a pattern that places the city well above NH's average for drinking water compliance across recent reporting cycles.
How Gorham Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Gorham Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 84% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.55 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Gorham
Federal drinking water records identify 2 systems in Gorham, NH. The leading 2 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations — so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Gorham, New Hampshire, covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 3,243 people.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Gorham — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Gorham: B (70/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Gorham water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Gorham
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03581 | B | Gorham Water and Sewer Department | 2,630 |
All ZIP Codes in Gorham
- 03581 [B]
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Gorham
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
How Old Is Gorham's Housing Stock?
With 84% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Gorham is predominantly an older city — a median build year of 1963 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Gorham were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Gorham: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The Gorham equity share sits above the low tier but short of the range where remediation becomes a heavy financial burden — the cost-to-value ratio is moderate, and deliberate planning is the key practical lever for most homeowners.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Gorham. The estimated $800–$2,600 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 57% below the New Hampshire average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Gorham
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If 84% of the Gorham inventory comes from before the federal ban on lead-bearing solder — and if utility samples sit at or near 0.015 mg/L — the gap between citywide averages and one specific faucet becomes a practical concern rather than a theoretical one. That is why one-home reads exist as a separate measurement. A certified filter through retailer networks addresses confirmed exposure where it appears in a household.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Gorham
FEMA data shows 100% of Gorham's ZIP codes mapped into designated flood zones, paired with an NFIP record of 29 claims. That footprint places local flood exposure in the range where it warrants attention without rising to high-severity planning territory.
Gorham has a moderate flood history with 29 FEMA claims averaging $7,060 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,600</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Gorham, NH