Overview
Legal does not necessarily equal safe.
- Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
- Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
- The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.
AquaPura's analysis shows 20 contaminant(s) detected in Portsmouth Water & Fire District's water exceed recommended health guidelines, though they may be within legal limits set by the EPA.
Contaminants Detected
This Utility: 5.07 ppt
No Legal Limit
5.1x
EWG's Health Guideline:
1 ppb
1 ppb
This Utility: 0.138 ppb
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
34x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.004 ppb
0.004 ppb
Bromodichloromethane
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 14.7 ppb
No Legal Limit
246x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.06 ppb
0.06 ppb
This Utility: 105 ppb
Legal Limit: 1000 ppb
2.1x
EWG's Health Guideline:
50 ppb
50 ppb
Chloroform
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 24.5 ppb
No Legal Limit
61x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.4 ppb
0.4 ppb
Chromium (hexavalent)*
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.0975 ppb
No Legal Limit
4.9x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.02 ppb
0.02 ppb
Dibromochloromethane
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 9.73 ppb
No Legal Limit
97x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.1 ppb
0.1 ppb
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 14.4 ppb
Legal Limit: 60 ppb
144x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.1 ppb
0.1 ppb
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)*
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 35.6 ppb
No Legal Limit
593x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.06 ppb
0.06 ppb
This Utility: 0.693 ppm
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
5x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.14 ppb
0.14 ppb
This Utility: 0.39 ppm
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
2.8x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.14 ppb
0.14 ppb
This Utility: 0.416 ppt
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
416x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.001 ppb
0.001 ppb
This Utility: 0.15 ppt
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
25x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.006 ppb
0.006 ppb
This Utility: 3.29 ppt
Legal Limit: 4 ppb
11x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.3 ppb
0.3 ppb
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 1.2 ppt
Legal Limit: 4 ppb
13x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.09 ppb
0.09 ppb
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 50.6 ppb
Legal Limit: 80 ppb
337x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.15 ppb
0.15 ppb
Trichloroacetic acid
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 2.41 ppb
No Legal Limit
24x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.1 ppb
0.1 ppb
This Utility: 0.00423 ppb
No Legal Limit
This Utility: 0.00282 ppb
No Legal Limit
This Utility: 0.00141 ppb
No Legal Limit
This Utility: 0.239 ppb
Legal Limit: 6 ppb
EWG's Health Guideline:
3 ppb
3 ppb
This Utility: 0.00563 ppb
No Legal Limit
This Utility: 0.000179 ppb
No Legal Limit
This Utility: 0.522 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
2000 ppt
2000 ppt
This Utility: 0.328 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
1000 ppt
1000 ppt
This Utility: 0.467 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
1000 ppt
1000 ppt
This Utility: 1.32 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
1000 ppt
1000 ppt
This Utility: 1.54 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
1000 ppt
1000 ppt
Find a Filter
See which water filtration technologies are effective at reducing the contaminants detected in this utility's water supply.
Carbon Filters
Filters 16 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+16 others)
Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.
Pros
- Lower upfront cost
- Reduced maintenance
Cons
- Does not remove all contaminants
Reverse Osmosis
Filters 20 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+19 others)
Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.
Pros
- Most effective
Cons
- Higher upfront cost
- Requires more maintenance
- Wastes water
Other Considerations
Ion Exchange
PROS: Softens hard water, Reduces some contaminants
CONS: Doesn't remove all contaminants
Whole-House Filters
PROS: Useful for reducing radiologicals and TCE
CONS: Expensive to install and maintain, Risk of bacterial contamination
Explore filter options for each contaminant. See which technologies are effective at reducing specific contaminants.
| Contaminant | Activated Carbon | Reverse Osmosis | Ion Exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminants Above Health Guidelines | |||
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate (6 2FTS) * | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Arsenic | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bromodichloromethane | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Bromoform | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Chlorite | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Chloroform | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Chromium (hexavalent)* | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dibromoacetic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Dibromochloromethane | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Dichloroacetic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9)* | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Nitrate | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nitrate and nitrite | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Trichloroacetic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Other Contaminants Detected | |||
| Barium | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Benzo[a]pyrene | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Benzo[b]fluoranthene | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Benzo[g,h,i]perylene* | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Benzo[k]fluoranthene* | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Chlorate* | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Manganese | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Methoxychlor | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Metolachlor | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Monobromoacetic acid* | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Monochloroacetic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Pyrene* | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Selenium | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Strontium* | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vanadium* | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Protect your family's health.
Don't wait for your utility to improve. Get a free water analysis from AquaPura and find the right filtration system for your home.