New Hampshire
Plymouth’s tap water beats Concord at state festival – Concord Monitor
The students had some tough decisions to make as they eyed phalanxes of Dixie Cups filled with water.
It’s a ritual of the New Hampshire Water Drinking Festival, where fourth and fifth-graders learn about how water systems work from state professionals in the Department of Environmental Services.
At the Manchester Water Treatment Facility on Wednesday, they participated in workshops touching on everything from how sewage treatment works to PFAS contamination. Then, students, teachers, parent chaperones and professionals sampled tap water from a handful of municipalities across the state. Blind to the origins of each water cup, they placed a vote for which one they thought tasted the best.
Each year, participating towns provide a cooler of tap water, poured that same day. Colder water generally tastes better, so organizers check to make sure it hasn’t been iced, and refrigeration is frowned upon. Water from the coolers is then dispensed into the paper cups in front of a corresponding letter to ensure the test is blind.
Relatively few towns and cities enter into the competition – this year, just Manchester, Concord, Hooksett and Plymouth – but still, there is some rivalry.
A water works employee from a city not competing in the contest completed the blind test and cast his vote. Organizers wouldn’t disclose which cups were which. As he walked away from the station with coworkers, he said, “As long as I didn’t vote for Concord.” He had, in fact, unknowingly selected Concord’s water as the tastiest.
Concord has been dominant in this taste-test for years, taking home the top spot for most of the last decade – including last year. With a well-protected surface water source in Penacook Lake, the city has invested in a system that delivers tasty, fresh water with minimal need for treatment. It’s paid off in the results.
This year, however, Plymouth took the top spot.
With an influx of federal money, Plymouth has been working to upgrade its water system for the last several years, including with a new well near Holderness. Department of Environmental Services staff at the tasting said this was the first year water from the new well had been “entered” by Plymouth in the competition.
The upgrades in Plymouth appear to be paying off, with the town taking home the award for best-tasting tap water in the state.
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Fourth and fifth graders sampled water from four towns and ranked which one was the tastiest. Plymouth came out on top. Credit: CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN / Monitor
New Hampshire
Photo Exhibit | Art Talk | Crew Competition | Nashua Genealogy Club | More: Week Ahead Events
NASHUA, NH — Here is the week ahead roundup.
Get out, New Hampshire.
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Join us for a community conversation exploring how land conservation supports thriving communities, healthy ecosystems, and local economies. Recent research from Maine highlights the growing economic value of conserved lands — from supporting recreation, forestry, agriculture, and tourism to protecting clean water, storing carbon, and strengthening climate resilience. The findings reveal something important: protecting natural landscapes is not only good for the environment, but also for the people and communities that depend on them.
Together, we’ll explore what this research means both regionally and here at home. How do conserved lands shape our quality of life, local economy, and sense of place? How can communities balance growth, conservation, and long-term sustainability? And what role can each of us play in protecting the landscapes that support both nature and people?
At each “Let’s Talk Nature” gathering, we share a short article in advance and come together for an informal, welcoming discussion. Each session stands on its own, and everyone is welcome. No expertise needed. Bring your curiosity and a willingness to listen and share. Drinks and cookies provided.
Read this session’s article: Conserved Land in Maine has Growing Economic Power
Grey Rocks Conservation Center
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM on Wed, 1 Jul 2026
Event Supported By
Newfound Lake Region Association
603-744-8689
info@NewfoundLake.org
High winds and widespread rain contributed to more than 12,000 power outages Saturday as a low pressure system passes over New Hampshire.
A high wind advisory remains in effect for southeastern New Hampshire until midday.
There is a high surf advisory in effect for the Seacoast area until 8 p.m. Saturday, with large-breaking waves in the range of 6-9 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
The forecast warns of dangerous wintry winds for hikers and campers, with heavy wet snow likely at higher elevations and a foot of snow possible on summits in the White Mountains.
In southeastern New Hampshire, the wind advisory calls for steady winds of 15-25 mph, and potential wind gusts up to 50 mph.
Eversource reported over 10,000 outages as of 9:30 a.m. Unitil had about 1,400 outages at that time.
The Mount Washington Observatory has recorded winterlike weather over the past 24 hours. Weather observers there say over half a foot of snow and sleet has fallen at the summit.
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