New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

What New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services does

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is a state government agency established in January 1987 under RSA 21-O through the consolidation of four predecessor agencies — the Air Resources Agency, the Office of Waste Management, the Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission, and the Water Resources Board. It operates as the single state regulator for air, water, land, and waste in New Hampshire, organized into three divisions and serving approximately 2,500 public water systems, 42 coastal municipalities, citizens, businesses, and licensed environmental professionals. Core functions include permitting, compliance and enforcement, environmental monitoring, 24/7 spill response, infrastructure funding administration, and climate adaptation planning.

NHDES's technology stack centers on the OneStop searchable database (covering permits, septic records, wetlands, and fuel storage tanks), the NH Environmental Dashboard for real-time environmental data, the DataCheck Tool for threatened/endangered species screening on permitting applications, the NH GRANIT GIS system, and specialized public mappers (Healthy Swimming, Boat Pumpout, Coastal Viewer). These are interactive ArcGIS-based web applications rather than public APIs; ancillary integrations include Google Translate for accessibility and Microsoft Teams for remote public hearings. A dedicated PFAS Investigation portal consolidates per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances program information.

As a public-sector entity, NHDES does not generate commercial revenue. It is funded through state appropriations, federal grants (including ARPA 2021 and IIJA 2021 pass-throughs for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater), and program fees. Fee structures include annual Permit to Operate fees for public water systems ($10/household, $300 cap for community systems; $150 for non-transient non-community systems), State Revolving Fund loan administration, and the 2026-2027 state budget's fee restructuring intended to reduce reliance on tax dollars and make programs self-supporting.

Name

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

Legal name

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

Website

https://des.nh.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NHDES is the New Hampshire state agency, established 1987 under RSA 21-O, that regulates air, water, land, and waste. It serves citizens, municipalities, businesses, and approximately 2,500 public water systems through permitting, monitoring, infrastructure funding, and 24/7 spill response.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Environmental Regulatory Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Protection Agencies & Environmental Health Departments (HLAJAFAA), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB)

Keywords

• Environmental regulatory services
• Drinking water protection
• Air quality monitoring
• Waste management services
• Environmental permitting

Headquarters

HQ city

Concord

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriations: State-funded agency operating under New Hampshire state statute RSA 21-O, established in January 1987 through consolidation of four separate agencies.
2. Fee-based Services: The 2026-2027 state budget includes fee changes for NHDES programs including eliminating, increasing and creating new fees. Goal is to reduce reliance on tax dollars and ensure programs are self-supporting. Permit fees, PTO fees for public water systems.
3. Federal Grants: Distribution of federal infrastructure funding through American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects.
4. Annual Permit to Operate Fees: Public water systems pay annual PTO fees: $10 per household for community systems (max $300), $150 for non-transient non-community systems.
5. State Revolving Funds: Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund provide low-interest loans for infrastructure projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is a state government agency that protects public health and the environment across air, water, land, and waste domains. It issues environmental permits, conducts monitoring of air quality and water bodies, regulates drinking water systems and septic systems, manages fuel storage tanks, provides spill response, administers federal and state infrastructure funding programs, and offers licensing and certification for environmental professionals.

Product overview

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) provides a comprehensive suite of environmental management services organized around core domains: air quality monitoring, drinking water protection, waterbody management (rivers, lakes, coastal waters), waste management, and climate sustainability. The agency operates digital platforms including the OneStop searchable database, DataCheck ecological screening tool, NH Environmental Dashboard, and PFAS Investigation website as its primary technology products. These are complemented by regulatory programs for septic systems, fuel storage tanks, and various licenses/certifications. Financial assistance products include revolving loan funds, grant programs, and the Infrastructure Funding distribution system. NHDES also provides professional training through the Bite-Sized Asset Management series and operates mapping/GIS services through NH GRANIT.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OneStop Navigation System An online searchable database providing access to NHDES environmental documents, permits, data, and reports compiled across agency programs including Basic Search, Wetland/Shoreland Query, Septic Systems, and Fuel Storage Tanks records.
• DataCheck Tool A screening tool that evaluates project locations for the presence of threatened or endangered species and their habitats to support timely and efficient environmental permitting.
• NH Environmental Dashboard Real-time environmental data portal providing current air quality, water quality, and other environmental metrics across multiple monitoring domains in New Hampshire.
• PFAS Investigation Website A dedicated web portal providing resources, FAQs, and program updates on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) findings and investigation activities in New Hampshire.
• Air Quality Monitoring and Forecasting Real-time air quality data, forecasts, and Air Quality Action Day alerts through a statewide monitoring network tracking criteria pollutants, greenhouse gases, and toxic air pollutants.
• Healthy Swimming Mapper An interactive map displaying current E. coli and cyanobacteria bloom advisories for public beaches and water bodies, updated daily for the swimming public.
• Drinking Water Programs Oversight, education, and technical assistance for public water systems and private well owners, including compliance monitoring, PFAS testing, and the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Project.
• Infrastructure Funding Programs Distribution of federal funds for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
• Rivers and Lakes Management Monitoring and protection of New Hampshire's 800+ lakes and ponds and approximately 19,000 miles of rivers and streams, including the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program and TMDL assessments.
• Coastal Waters Program

Quantifiable outcome

• State meets all federal air quality standards despite wildfire smoke events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New Hampshire Water CouncilcoreOthersNHDES works under guidance from the Water Council for water protection programs including public water systems, private wells, source water protection, and river/lake monitoring.
• New Hampshire Wetlands CouncilcoreOthersNHDES operates under Wetlands Council guidance for wetlands protection programs and regulatory oversight.
• Air Resources CouncilcoreOthersAdvisory council providing guidance on air quality standards and pollution control programs.
• Waste Management CouncilcoreOthersAdvisory council overseeing waste management programs and hazardous materials handling.
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHDES Environmental Health Program conducts public health assessments following ATSDR guidance and in collaboration with other state and federal agencies for hazardous waste site evaluations.
• New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DPHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on public health assessments for environmental exposures and health consultations, including PFAS investigation and environmental health tracking.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal regulatory partner for Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act implementation. Provides funding through State Revolving Funds, DERA grants, and Climate Pollution Reduction Grants.
• U.S. Department of EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition, a program supported by DOE for alternative fuel adoption and petroleum use reduction.
• Local Conservation DistrictsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer Lake Assessment Program engages citizen volunteers through local conservation districts for lake water quality monitoring.
• Gulf of Maine CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership for coastal zone management with 34 federally approved coastal programs. NHDES received recognition awards in 2026 for NH coastal work.
• NH Coastal Adaptation WorkgroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for coastal resilience planning and climate adaptation strategies.
• Upper Valley Adaptation WorkgroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership for climate adaptation in the Upper Valley region.
• NH Association of Regional Planning CommissionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for regional planning and climate resilience coordination.
• NH Coastal Risk and Hazards CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommission focused on coastal flood risk assessment and hazard mitigation planning.
• NH Department of TransportationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInteragency partnership for transportation conformity reviews and emission reduction strategies.
• NH Department of Health and Human Services - Climate HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership addressing climate-related health impacts and public health adaptation.
• NH Department of EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency collaboration on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emissions reduction programs.
• Homeland Security & Emergency ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for hazard mitigation planning and emergency response coordination.
• Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaboration with 10 states to implement market-based program reducing carbon dioxide emissions through cap-and-trade system.
• NHSaves ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide energy efficiency program operated by NH electric utilities providing incentives and support for energy conservation.
• NH Energy Education ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerK-12 education partnership for energy efficiency, conservation, and climate change curriculum.
• Local Energy Solutions Working GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative guidance and technical support for local energy committees, municipalities, and schools on energy reduction.
• Manchester Water WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional water supplier providing drinking water for Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Project addressing MtBE and PFAS contamination with Phase 1 operational at 1 MGD.
• NH Environmental CouncilscoreOthersNHDES provides support for Environmental Councils including Water Council, Wetlands Council, Air Resources Council, and Waste Management Council.
• NH Granite State Clean Cities CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition hosted by NHDES under DOE sponsorship promoting alternative fuels and petroleum reduction.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Maine Department of Environmental Protection: New England state environmental agency with overlapping jurisdiction over air, water, and waste; comparable in coastal program emphasis (Gulf of Maine overlap) and small-state scale.
• Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation: New England state environmental agency responsible for air quality, water resources, and waste management; directly comparable in program structure, regulatory remit, and reliance on EPA-region partnerships.
• Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Regional state environmental agency integrating energy and environmental regulation; directly comparable in consolidated environmental governance model and program breadth.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: Large-state environmental agency with similar air, water, waste, and fish/wildlife regulatory programs; relevant for operational scale benchmarking and shared federal regulatory frameworks.
• Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management: Compact New England state environmental agency covering air, water, waste, and land; most comparable in size and jurisdictional scope to NHDES.
• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection: Sibling New England state environmental agency with comparable air, water, wetlands, and waste regulatory responsibilities; the closest functional peer in scale and program scope to NHDES.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Federal counterpart that delegates and partially funds NHDES's regulatory programs under the Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Clean Water Act; provides the policy framework and federal grants that NHDES implements.
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality: State environmental agency with similarly consolidated air, water, and waste programs; relevant for benchmarking digital permitting and emerging-contaminant (PFAS) program design.
• Washington State Department of Ecology: State environmental agency with broad air, water, waste, and climate adaptation programs; comparable in funding-model diversification and use of dashboard/data tools.
• California Environmental Protection Agency: Large umbrella state environmental agency integrating multiple boards and departments; a broader peer in governance structure and program scope, less directly comparable in operating scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NHDES
• Facebookfacebook.com/NHEnvironmentalServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-hampshire-department-of-environmental-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services