2006 Water Rate Survey
Larger Water Systems

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services performed a survey of some of the larger water systems in New Hampshire to gauge the cost of water service across the state. Although not a substitute for a comprehensive cost of service and rate analysis, the survey provides water systems with a general perspective of how their rates compare with similar water systems.

One hundred fourteen of the 128 water systems polled responded to the 2006 Water Rate Survey questionnaire. The systems surveyed typically serve a residential population of over 500 people, provide fire flow capability, and generally are municipally owned.

The average annual price of water for a single family home in New Hampshire was $434. Fifty percent of the water systems that responded classified their rate structure as constant. Inclining (11%) and declining (11%) rounded out the majority of responses. On average, rates were last modified four years ago and 39 water systems anticipated a rate increase in 2007.

Beyond the cost of water service, the survey also included questions about billing frequency, connection fees, availability charges, capital reserve accounts, and many other questions related to financial management. The 2006 Water Rate Survey Questionnaire provides a complete list of the questions in the survey. A summary of results may be found at Summary of New Hampshire 2006 Water Rates. The summary utilized data codes to that are defined in the document Data Codes in the Tabular Summary.

In addition to the large systems, many very small community systems serving mobile home parks, condominiums and single family home developments in rural areas of New Hampshire responded to the survey. These systems are generally privately owned and/or part of a homeowner cooperative and do not have fire flow capability. A separate rate summary for these systems is available in DES fact sheet WD-WSEB-16-6.

DES assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the data as originally reported by the water systems. Should you encounter an error in the data please call (603) 271-6685 so that it may be corrected.

For Additional Information
Please contact the Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau at (603) 271-2513 or dwgbinfo@des.state.nh.us or visit the bureau’s website at www.des.nh.gov/dwgb.