News In Brief: ARPA-funded projects, Discover Wild NH and the Seacoast Private Well Initiative

More ARPA-funded Projects Approved by Governor and Council

NHDES continues to shepherd tens of millions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure projects through the loan and grant process set up using money from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). NHDES has offered over $166 million in ARPA grant funding for more than 310 projects, which are in the process of finalizing their proposals to NHDES for submission to the Governor and Executive Council for approval.

NHDES provided the funding through ARPA, the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund (DWGTF) the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).  

More information about the specific projects can be found on our ARPA press release webpage.

Save the Date for Discover Wild NH!

Discover Wild New Hampshire is a fantastic, FREE, family-fun event put on by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. NHDES, along with a number of other state agencies, will be there with displays, hands-on activities and demonstrations. Join the fun on Saturday, April 15 from 10 AM to 3 PM, at 11 Hazen Drive, Concord. Learn more.

Seacoast Private Well Initiative in Full Swing

The Seacoast Private Well Initiative is offering educational workshops and free well water testing to all households using private wells in 12 communities: Dover, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Madbury, New Castle, Newington, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rye, Seabrook and Stratham. The Initiative came out of the work of the Seacoast Commission on Long-Term Goals and Requirements for Drinking Water, which was established under RSA 485-F:6, “to plan for long-term goals and requirements for drinking water on the Seacoast.”  

The first three workshops were held in Madbury, Exeter/North Hampton, and Stratham for private well users. Water was analyzed for a list of contaminants common in New Hampshire’s groundwater and drinking water, including bacteria, radon, arsenic, lead, uranium, manganese and four PFAS compounds. Participating households will receive their water test results, information on health risks of any contaminants found, and recommendations on treatment systems.  

For more information, contact Amy Hudnor, NHDES Private Well Coordinator, at welltest@des.nh.gov or visit the Seacoast Private Well Initiative website.