Dover Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Dover, New Hampshire, the Strafford County seat — a major southeast New Hampshire Seacoast city (Dover is the Strafford County seat and the oldest continuously settled European community in New Hampshire (settled 1623) — one of the most historically significant cities in the Seacoast region; Dover is the third-largest city in New Hampshire and one of the most historically important manufacturing cities in the state — the Cochecho Manufacturing Company made Dover one of the early 19th century's most important textile mill cities, with massive red brick mill complexes still visible along the Cochecho River), home of the Woodman Institute Museum (one of New Hampshire's oldest and most eclectic museums — a complex of three historic buildings with natural history, history, and art collections), a diverse Strafford County community with a significant University of New Hampshire student commuter, working-class, and professional population, and adjacent to the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham — draws its municipal water supply from the Bellamy Reservoir via the Dover Water Works. Water hardness in Dover measures 22.5 mg/L — classified as very soft.

Dover's very soft supply reflects the southeast New Hampshire Seacoast watershed's calcareous-poor crystalline geology. The Bellamy and Cochecho River watersheds drain the Precambrian New Hampshire gneiss and schist (calcareous-poor crystalline basement). Dover Water Works produces the very soft 22.5 mg/L.

With hardness at 22.5 mg/L, Dover residents enjoy very soft water. Dover Water Works consistently delivers water meeting all New Hampshire DES and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.